Tsambika Monastery: 350 Steps to the Best View on Rhodes

High on a rocky spur above the east coast of Rhodes sits one of the island’s smallest yet most beloved churches. The old monastery of Panagia Tsambika crowns a hill at roughly 240 metres, and the reward for reaching it is a panorama that stretches north over Kolymbia and south across the golden sweep of Tsambika beach, all the way to the silhouette of Lindos in the distance.

The climb to the top

The approach turns off the main coastal road a short way before the junction for Tsambika beach. A narrow lane carries you about halfway up the hillside; from there, the rest is on foot. Some 350 stone steps wind their way to the summit, and while the ascent asks a little effort, the views unfolding with every landing make each one worthwhile. At the top waits the tiny Byzantine chapel, weathered and white, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

A legend of faith and fertility

Tsambika is wrapped in a story that locals still hold dear. Women hoping to conceive are said to climb the hill barefoot to pray to the Virgin, and tradition promises that sincere faith is often rewarded. A boy born after such a pilgrimage is named Tsampikos, a girl Tsampika — names so distinctly tied to the island that calling either one out on a busy Rhodian street is likely to turn several heads at once. Both name days fall on the 7th of September.

Whether you make the climb for the legend, the history, or simply the view, Tsambika rewards the visit. Go early in the day to beat the heat, bring water, and wear shoes you can trust on stone.