Melina Merkouri Medieval Moat Theater

The Melina Merkouri Theater sits carved directly into the dry moat of the Palace of the Grand Master. Massive stone walls, built by the Knights of Saint John in the fourteenth century to keep invaders out, now wrap around the audience to provide perfect acoustics. Rhodes officials converted this defensive trench into a performance space in the nineteen seventies. It bears the name of the Greek actress and culture minister who fought to reclaim the island’s heritage for public life and open performance.