Discover Eleousa, the Abandoned Italian Village on Rhodes Island, Greece: A Haunting Legacy of the Italian Occupation

Eleousa is a village that appears to be from a different era, tucked away on the slopes of Mount Profitis Ilias and surrounded by plane trees. The majority of tourists associate Rhodes with bustling tourist resorts, sun-drenched beaches, and ancient ruins. A hauntingly quiet ghost village can be found away from the well-travelled paths. Eleousa is a reminder of a bygone era with its deserted structures and eerie ambience. This village, which has been exposed to the elements for more than 50 years, provides an engrossing look into Rhodes’ past during the Italian occupation.

The Italian Legacy – Campochiaro and its Origins

Eleousa, originally known by its Italian name Campochiaro, was founded in the 1930s under the rule of the Italian Empire, which controlled the Dodecanese islands, including Rhodes, from 1912 to 1947. The Italians, who sought to transform the island into a more modern, industrious colony, envisioned Campochiaro as a self‑sustaining, rural settlement designed to serve the growing timber trade. The island’s lush forests of pine, cypress, and oak were tapped to fuel the island’s economy, and the village was strategically positioned to support this industry.

The settlement was purposefully built far from the bustling towns on the island. It was planned to be an isolated and functional community for the Italian labourers and their families who came from the Alpine regions of Northern Italy. These workers were recruited to cut timber and help develop the infrastructure to support a developing tourism industry, which the Italians were keen to expand on the island.

Unlike many other villages on Rhodes, Eleousa was not organically developed over centuries but was a carefully planned experiment in rural architecture and community design. The village’s architecture reflected the Italian influence, with buildings featuring pitched roofs, elegant arches, and structured façades—a stark contrast to the traditional Greek island architecture. These homes and buildings were designed to provide the necessary services for the timber industry, but they also offered a glimpse of Italian aesthetics and planning in a remote part of the island.

The Italian Administration’s Vision

The heart of Eleousa was its central square, surrounded by several important structures. The market building, or Agora, stood as the focal point of commerce and social interaction in the village. With its graceful arches and curved balconies, the Agora was not just a commercial space but also a symbol of the Italian aspirations for modernity and urbanisation in the remote corners of Rhodes. The village also boasted a prison that had been used during the Italian occupation as a military detention facility. Later, after Rhodes became part of Greece in 1947, this prison building found a new life as the village school.

One of the most striking remnants of Eleousa’s history is the Dodecanese Sanatorium, more commonly known as “Queen Frederica”. Originally established as a tuberculosis treatment centre, the sanatorium was built to take advantage of the area’s isolated and tranquil environment, which was believed to offer an ideal climate for healing. The building itself, though now in a state of decay, remains one of the most eerie and atmospheric structures in Eleousa. It has drawn tourists interested in both its grandiose design and the dark history surrounding it. The sanatorium continued to function until the early 1970s before being abandoned, leaving behind a powerful sense of nostalgia for a time long gone.

The Decline and Abandonment of Eleousa

The golden era of Eleousa was short‑lived. Most of the Italian residents began to depart the village between 1940 and 1943, as World War II raged across Europe and the Mediterranean. By 1947, with the integration of the Dodecanese islands into Greece, the last of the Italian families left the village. This marked the end of the period when Eleousa thrived under Italian rule. Over time, the community’s infrastructure fell into disrepair, and the village was largely abandoned.

Today, the structures that remain in Eleousa are in various stages of decay. The once‑vibrant facades have faded, and nature has slowly begun to reclaim the village. Roof tiles have crumbled, and vegetation has broken through the floors of the buildings, giving the village a haunting, overgrown appearance. Despite its decay, Eleousa offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and witness a piece of history that was once full of life.

The Cistern, The Fish, and The Quiet

One of the most notable features of Eleousa is a large, circular artificial lake or cistern located just a short distance from the village square. This structure was built by the Italians to collect water from the nearby Koskinisti spring, ensuring that the village and its timber operations had a steady water supply. The aqueduct that carried the water to the cistern still stands as a testament to the engineering achievements of the time.

The cistern also plays a vital ecological role, providing a habitat for the Gizani fish (Ladigesocypris ghigii), a small, critically endangered species of freshwater fish endemic to Rhodes. This rare fish is found only in the waters of the cistern and a few other locations on the island, making it a unique ecological feature of the village.

While the village may be largely abandoned, there are still a few Greek residents who have settled in Eleousa, drawn by the village’s quiet surroundings and proximity to nature. These residents, along with a growing number of tourists, contribute to a quiet but steady flow of life in the village, despite the overall feeling of abandonment.

Mussolini’s Villa and the Broader Legacy of Italian Rhodes

Not far from Eleousa, another remnant of the Italian occupation still stands—the Villa de Vecchi. Often referred to as “Mussolini’s Villa”, this mansion was designed to be the summer residence of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. However, Mussolini never spent any time there. Instead, the villa served as the residence of Count Cesare Maria De Vecchi, one of Mussolini’s advisors and a former governor of the Dodecanese islands. Though the villa has also fallen into disrepair, its story continues to intrigue visitors who seek to learn more about the legacy of Italy’s brief but significant rule over Rhodes.

The presence of these buildings, along with the remnants of Italian influence in the architecture of Eleousa, provides a fascinating lens through which to explore the complex history of Rhodes during the first half of the 20th century. From the grand villas to the humble village, these structures tell the story of an era that has left a lasting mark on the island’s identity.

Visiting Eleousa Today

Eleousa provides a singular and eerie chance to explore the ruins of a vanished village for visitors to Rhodes who are looking for an experience away from the throngs of the island’s well-known tourist destinations. A window into the village’s history is offered by the central square, which is encircled by the dilapidated market and prison structures. With its spooky ambience, the Dodecanese Sanatorium encourages guests to consider the island’s past and its inhabitants.

The surrounding scenery is just as captivating. The aqueduct and cistern provide a window into the village’s once-well-planned infrastructure, and the wooded surroundings offer a peaceful setting for anyone looking for solitude. Eleousa is a place where history and nature coexist, and every overgrown stone and crumbling wall reflects the passing of time.

Eleousa continues to enthral tourists with its serene beauty and extensive history, even though a large portion of the village is still in ruins. It is a location where the past and present coexist and where the ruins of a bygone era silently observe the shifting historical tides.

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