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The Walls of the Medieval town of the Ioannite Knights were built in a hurry to defend the town and as such are not remarkable in technique in stark contrast to the ancient wall. It is quite plain to see that the medieval town wassmaller than the ancient one. The medieval town's boundaries were within Miaoulis street, Kountourioti avenue, Eleftherias square and Hippocrates street which formed a moat to supplement the defence of the town.
 The Castle of the Ioannite (order of Saint John) Knights dominate s the port. It was built from the rocks and marbles of ancient houses, hellenistic monuments and ancient churches and consists of two defensive precincts. The interior one has four circular towers in the corners; the south-eastern tower forms part of the exterior precinct, which is the larger one of the two, with massive bastions on the four corners, battlements and gun ports. The two precincts are separated by a large moat and communicate with a drawbridge. One can enter, climb the ramparts and survey the town from the battlements.
 Before the entrance of the castle, although not regarded as a medieval monument, Hippocrates' Plane Tree majestically spreads its branches and shades a huge area. It is believed to have been planted by Hippocrates some 2400 years ago and Hippocrates is said to have taught his students under its shade.
Many years later, the Ap ostle Paul is believed to have taught Christianity in the very same spot.
An old tradition among Koans was for children to bring 40 small stones in September of each year and place them around the trunk, making a wish to live as many years as the tree. This tradition has unfortunately faded into the past.
In the railings around the tree there is a sarcophagus bearing an Arabic inscription. A few paces to the east of the tree, the back wall of the local government building bears the Roman inscription "Legum Omnes Servi Sumus" which means "Law is above all".
 The Mosque of Lotzia is opposite the castle entrance and was built in 1786 by the Turkish admiral Yiaza Irli Hassan. He used decorations from Christian churches and ancient sites in the area, including the lion's body from the sanctuary dedicated to Herakles.
The Mosque of Defendar is opposite the fruit market. It was built by Ibrahim Efendi and contains the mausoleum of Hadji Pasha at the junction between Hippocrates and Mitropoleos streets. |
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Dry -
mostly cloudy
- thunder; Cumulonimbus clouds, towering cumulus clouds observed |
| Temp.:
15.0°C | 59.0 °F
Hourly
Fluctuation (0.0 °C/hr)
Humidity: 82 %
Wind: 5 bft - S
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01:30 AM
(GMT+2) -
06/01/09 |
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