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THE "MEDIEVAL ROSE" FESTIVAL ... a dream to come true!

It all started in July 2004, as an idea! A dream of the medieval town of Rhodes turning back in time, to the epoch when the hospitaller knights of St. John occupied the island. A time supposedly covered with stories of romance and great legends as well as glorious battles and heroic achievements.

But for several reasons, all these wonderful stories and history of the medieval times of Rhodes, were not really known to the majority of the local people and were never taught in school...

We really felt something was missing from our community. A special cultural event with so many potentials. The Medieval festival, besides its narrative role in history, could also become a motivation for new cultural productions, inspire new creative initiatives, function as cultural tourism attraction and in its full version, even become the hallmark event of Rhodes. But most of all, it would maintain our heritage in the most recreative way!

Highlights in the Medieval Times of Rhodes

• The legend of the Dragon of Rhodes, slaughtered by the French knight de Gozon, also known from the poem of the great German poet Friedrich von Schiller
• The Great 1st and 2nd ultimate Siege of Rhodes by Suleiman the Magnificent that became the first opera play ever performed in England by the impresario William Davenant
• The mysterious “Midgetville”, one of the very few “tiny towns” ever existed in the medieval world
• The famous European Alchemists asGeorge Ripley and others who lived and worked or even died on the island
• The rare Mandrake Autumnalis of Rhodes, largely famous in those times, surrounded bylegends and superstitions and very much in request
• The Falcons of Rhodes (later Maltese Falcons) were of the most famous in the medieval world and a precious gift offered by the knights to several kings for falconry
• The story of Anastasia the Heroine who fought bravely as a knight against the ottoman warriors after they slaughtered her beloved husband. She killed then both of her children before they fall into the hands of the enemy
• Glorius battles between armies of the two dominant religions (christians vs ottomans) around the lethal medieval Moat and the impervious walls of Rhodes
• The Black Death (plague) which devastated Rhodes, described very well by E. Georgilas who wrote a long poem refering to the dramatic situation
• Stories and customs of a multicultural society where western and eastern civilizations were mixed, creating a unique medley of cultures ...

and many many other amazing stories, that even the locals were not aware of!

Achievements so far ...

In 2005 we founded the Medieval Rose non for profit association and ever since, we, the members of the association, voluntarily work on this idea, of making this festival the greatest event of our place that will highlight the value of the local medieval treasures. So, the first version took place in 2006 in the Medieval Town of Rhodes and since 2009 we produced more events at other, well preserved castles of the island, that we named as the Castle Fayres.

We managed to enhance local cultural production, new artistic groups were founded to work in the festival, thus giving jobs to new artists, cultural and artistic groups from 8 European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Ireland, UK, Portugal, Estonia, Czeck Republic) participated in our festival through the years. Tourists loved our event and wrote the best reviews for it on their blogs and social media and with very few means but lots of voluntary work, we made it known to most of Greece … at least! But its cultural uniqueness, could travel its fame to the whole world!

How we made it real ... until now

Public funds have always been very little, compared to what we had accomplished. Politics are not really meritocratic as you may know … you have to be member of a political party or use other kind of means to receive decent financial support … but we chose not to work this way … So most of the work came out from people who believed in this idea and worked for free. Although we had a little support from other sponsors. 

We have also applied several times from the onset of the "Medieval Rose" association, to be provided a hub/office for our meetings  or even storage facilities, available during the festival and/or throughout the year, however none of the public or other community bodies ever responded positively to our requests thus we use our own homes or other places of friends.

And then, in 2010 the crisis came … and hit culture first!

Funds and other sponsorship have been dramatically reduced and the mood of people it is not at its best. The last two years have been very bland for our festival and it seemed like dying somehow.

Now we are making a new effort to give back life to our project. With the help of Life Vocational Training Centers of the Periphery of South Aegean, we started training new groups of people for free, on several arts like street theater, historic dances, bagpipe music etc in order to start new productions for our festival. We have been promised generous support from public carriers but, once again, it never really came, for the same reasons I explained before.

So, we realize it is only up to the people to keep it going! The monument of the Medieval Town of Rhodes, a UNESCO world heritage site, since 1992, needs to tell its story and needs YOU to give it a voice! We really need YOUR support to give this special multi cultural history, a mixture of western and eastern civilization, a prominent place.

What are our objectives

Cultural evolvement: By means of organizing cultural and artistic events, inspired of tradition, myths and the history of Rhodes. The “Medieval Rose” grubs  into the mist of the centuries and revives, what has been long corrode or forgotten through artistic production and re-enactments.

Highlight tangible heritage: By organizing living history events in the Medieval Town of Rhodes or around other Byzantine and Medieval monuments of the island, sites and fortifications come to the spotlight and especially urgencies of the collapsing ones come to the attention of due services. 

Intercultural dialogue: Collaboration and interplay with other cultural and artistic European groups will contribute to the exchange of ideas and know how, to the understanding of our diversities as well our common  cultural roots.

Training: Through workshops on arts and crafts, seminars on cultural heritage, guided tours, conventions etc. At the same time, topics of all themed events presented or performed during the festival are inspired of history and tradition and based on research, therefore narrate history in the most recreative way.

Attraction for tourists: In the beginning of the touristic season, the Medieval Festival provides a unique attraction for visitors with sophisticated interests in culture.

Job offers: In this period of high unemployment, the festival creates chances for  artists and craftsmen to work and in case there will be capable funds, there could be working positions in the production such as managing directors, coordinators, secretaries, workers etc and more work would also be given to external collaborators (e.g. sound engineers, woodworkers, smiths etc).

Quality recreation: Targeting at all groups of ages, locals and foreign visitors, covering a wide variety of demands and interests.

Enhance volunteerism: By means of continuous motivation of people – particularly the young –  to participate / contribute, in any way they wish, in the creative process of organizing such an event.

Promotion of Rhodes: Through a magnificent event, taking place in the unique monumental Medieval Town of Rhodes and other citadels,  which bridges ages and travels us in time!

Medieval Festival's specifications

There is a variety of relevant to the epoch events taking place during the medieval festival of Rhodes, such as: stage theater and street theater, minstral and saltatory events, puppet theater, story telling, team games (e.g. the popular Rhodes' Dragon's Quest), chess games, archery, horseback riding, animation and jugglers, re-enactments, local customs, swordsfightings, traditional bazaars, pageants, mystery tours, workshops on medieval arts & crafts, medieval pothouses etc. Even animals (e.g. horses, chickens, sheep etc) can be found around the streets where the events take place as it could be happening in any medieval town.

Themed events are all inspired of medieval history and legends and those who participate should be dressed in a medieval manner and use only medieval equipment and accessories, made of appropriate materials, such as wood, clay, iron and stone. All sets are also constructed according to the medieval patterns and made of wood and fabric. In the pothouses one can eat and drink his wine only in ceramic pottery and use appropriate cutlery on proper timbered furniture.

The Medieval Festival seems like an interactive film production, where spectators become part of it, walk through it and experience the journey in time ...

Together with the recreative events, there are several others related to the festival, like: photo exhibitions, conventions, themed guided tours, screenings, book presentations, school activities etc

Where the funds will go

With your support we can make this fading event grow again!

By funding us, you help us:

• Host artists of all kinds from abroad that we cannot afford anymore
  
• Create local artistic productions such as theater and dance performances inspired of the year's main themes (every year we focus on one or two certain historic themes or legends) which, for this year, is the "Black Death" and the "Alchemists"
  
• Make more medieval costumes and amend the old ones, buy some pairs of medieval shoes and armory (helmets, swords etc) 
  
• Preserve the old worn out and shabby scenery that we can't even afford to set up anymore and make new ones, according to the needs of the festival
  
• Enrich our poor range of properties (lanterns, torches, several decorations)
  
• Improve the sound and illumination of the open spaces where most events take place in the medieval town
  
• Enhance the promotion of the event and strengthen our campaign with ads, advertising spots, banners and printed material
  
• Rent a hub where we can meet and interact with other voulnteers and members
  
• Keep our history alive!

The needs are too big! The Medieval Rose Festival has the potential to be extended around the whole medieval city of Rhodes and the surrounding moat but that would have a great cost. As long as You Support Us, everything may be possible and we can utilize all available funds.

The aim of 10.000 euros is a minimum target to make basic improvements to our events and equipment but a festival like this can become as big as we like!

How you can support us

YOU can become the producers of this unique event in Greece which includes all kinds of medieval arts and crafts plus exhibitions, themed guided tours, games, conventions and other instructive events. Thus you help maintain the memory of the legendary history of Rhodes, through a most joyful event.

Even by giving only 2euros, or more - for those who can afford it - you can be of a great support to us! A Great support to culture and heritage which is as much local as global … You can even spread the word to the social media or in any way you can, to support our campaign. 

So, please:

share our campaign link 

share our promo video link 

tell your friends and family about it

and do visit our festival!

The more the funds we get, the better the event will be! 

photo by Marek Florczyk

And we promise you nice Perks in return of our appreciation!

Details of the perks you can read on the right side of this page.

Here are some of them:

Velvet Honorary Plaque 

T-shirts with our logo at the back

Fridge magnet

Key holder

Illuminated Thank You letter