Rhodes, the pearl of Mediterranean before WW2
The Italian Dodecanese, formally known as the Italian Islands of the Aegean, were a group of twelve major islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea, which belonged to the Kingdom of Italy from 1912 to 1947.
The Dodecanese was occupied by Italy during the Italo-Turkish War of 1912 except Kastellorizo. Italy had agreed to return the islands to the Ottoman Empire according to the Treaty of Ouchy in 1912; however the vagueness of the text allowed a provisional Italian administration of the islands, and Turkey eventually renounced all claims on the Dodecanese with Article 15 of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Kastellorizo was temporarily occupied by France in World War I and was annexed to Italy from the Ottoman Empire in 1919.Dodecanese was formally annexed by Fascist Italy, as the Possedimenti Italiani dell'Egeo.
Italian interest in the Dodecanese was rooted in strategic purposes, and the islands were intended to further the Empire's long range imperial policy. The islands of Leros and Patmos were used as bases for the Royal Italian Navy
Mussolini wanted to transform the islands into showcases of the Italian colonial empire, and undertook a series of massive public works in the archipelago. New roads, monumental buildings in accordance with fascist architecture and waterworks were constructed.
Some examples of Italian architecture are still found on the islands:
The Grande Albergo delle Rose (now Casino Rodos) built by Florestano Di Fausto and Michele Platania in 1927, with a mix of Arab, Byzantine and Venetian styles.
The Casa del Fascio of Rhodes, built in 1939 in typical fascist style. It serves now as the City Hall.
The Catholic church of San Giovanni, built in 1925 by Rodolfo Petracco, as a reconstruction of the medieval cathedral church of the Knights of St. John.
The Teatro Puccini of the city of Rhodes, now called National Theater, built in 1937 with 1,200 seats.
The Palazzo del Governatore in downtown Rhodes, built in 1927 in Venetian style. It now houses the offices of the Prefecture of the Dodecanese.
The Villaggio rurale San Benedetto, now Kolymbia village, built in 1938 as a planned model village with all modern services.
The Community of Portolago (now Lakki) in the island of Leros, built in 1938 in typical Italian Deco style.
The Italians also surveyed the islands for the first time in history, and began to introduce mass-scale tourism to Rhodes and Kos.However, the smaller islands were mostly neglected by the improvement efforts and were left underdeveloped.
Rhodes ( RODI 1922 -1947 )
The Italian Dodecanese, formally known as the Italian Islands of the Aegean, were a group of twelve major islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea, which belonged to the Kingdom of Italy from 1912 to 1947.
The Dodecanese was occupied by Italy during the Italo-Turkish War of 1912 except Kastellorizo. Italy had agreed to return the islands to the Ottoman Empire according to the Treaty of Ouchy in 1912; however the vagueness of the text allowed a provisional Italian administration of the islands, and Turkey eventually renounced all claims on the Dodecanese with Article 15 of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Kastellorizo was temporarily occupied by France in World War I and was annexed to Italy from the Ottoman Empire in 1919.Dodecanese was formally annexed by Fascist Italy, as the Possedimenti Italiani dell'Egeo.
Italian interest in the Dodecanese was rooted in strategic purposes, and the islands were intended to further the Empire's long range imperial policy. The islands of Leros and Patmos were used as bases for the Royal Italian Navy
Mussolini wanted to transform the islands into showcases of the Italian colonial empire, and undertook a series of massive public works in the archipelago. New roads, monumental buildings in accordance with fascist architecture and waterworks were constructed.
Some examples of Italian architecture are still found on the islands:
The Grande Albergo delle Rose (now Casino Rodos) built by Florestano Di Fausto and Michele Platania in 1927, with a mix of Arab, Byzantine and Venetian styles.
The Casa del Fascio of Rhodes, built in 1939 in typical fascist style. It serves now as the City Hall.
The Catholic church of San Giovanni, built in 1925 by Rodolfo Petracco, as a reconstruction of the medieval cathedral church of the Knights of St. John.
The Teatro Puccini of the city of Rhodes, now called National Theater, built in 1937 with 1,200 seats.
The Palazzo del Governatore in downtown Rhodes, built in 1927 in Venetian style. It now houses the offices of the Prefecture of the Dodecanese.
The Villaggio rurale San Benedetto, now Kolymbia village, built in 1938 as a planned model village with all modern services.
The Community of Portolago (now Lakki) in the island of Leros, built in 1938 in typical Italian Deco style.
The Italians also surveyed the islands for the first time in history, and began to introduce mass-scale tourism to Rhodes and Kos.However, the smaller islands were mostly neglected by the improvement efforts and were left underdeveloped.