The island of Rhodes stretches out over 70km to the south of the modern capital. Its varied landscape makes it look something like a miniature continent. On the coastline, rocks alternate with beaches, gravel, pebbles or fine sand, running into a sea that is often rough on the eastern side but much calmer on the western side. A rocky spine running from north to south, the Ataviros massif is a setting of wooded valleys and agricultural plains, well irrigated, full of flowers and colours in springtime.