The church of Our Lady of the Castle is located at the eastern end of the Knights Street in Kollakio of the Medieval City. The building was probably constructed in the 11th century and it was a cruciform church with a dome.
After the conquest of Rhodes by the Knights, the Byzantine church was reconstructed as a three-aisled Gothic basilica with a transept. Based on the coat of arms of Grand Master Helion de Villeneuve and Pope John XXII, the construction date of the church is estimated between 1319 and 1334. At the western side, above the main entrance door, there is a rectangular frame which probably hosted the painting of Virgin Mary with saints and knights. During the Turkish occupation, the church was converted into a mosque and was named Enteroum Mosque. At the same time a minaret was erected on the south side. However this element was removed during the restoration works of the monument during the Italian occupation of the island. Unfortunately, little remains from the painted decoration of the church. Two of the most impressive paintings are Virgin and Child and saints on the northwest pillar (second half of the 14th century) and the figure of St. Lucia on the south wall (also second half of the 14th century).
Today the site has been restored and admission is free. The restoration of the monument was awarded by EUROPA NOSTRA in 2006.
