You’ll be hard pressed to find a place more perfectly suited to real-life time travel. The winding cobbled streets of the medieval old town twist and turn like passing years, unfurling secrets in every step, and where once a formidable wall and moat kept out hostile intruders, they now enshrine the true stories and myths of the past mixed by an astonishing alchemy. Standing imperiously over it all is the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, perhaps the most perfectly preserved building of its type in Europe today. And into this setting come our suggestions for the events and attractions that let you live the legend and the legacy.

First up is your epic journey through the entire Rhodian time vortex. From April to November, the full history of the island is narrated nightly in the Sound and Light Show, first performed in 1961 and now with all the modern-day tech to really do it justice. It has become known as the finest piece of theatre without actors! Stand in awe in the Municipal Gardens as orchestral music swells to brassy crescendos and subsides to whispering woodwinds and compelling, charismatic voices rattle the still night air: “Where is the Grand Master?… Fire at will!… Stand back, stand back!… It’s a rout!…The Lord’s mercy is on us… Rhodes is saved!” Hear the roar of battle, victory and celebration; the anguish of defeat and loss; the blast of gun and cannon fire; the swish of sword; the twang of arrow from bow; the cries of joy and terror. Your senses soar as a spectrum of lights swirl and swoop in rhythm with the sounds over the palace walls, old town ramparts and other buildings that played their part in the dramas.

So, what about going all in for the full Medieval magical mystery tour? Do you feel like dancing with dragons, witches and fairies, marveling at fire-eaters and jugglers or bantering with court jesters? Fancy some jousting, archery and sword fighting in the style of knights? Or is it to be a quiet game of chess with authentic pieces from the period before immersing yourself in reenactments of momentous historical moments like the Siege of Rhodes in 1522? Sounds like your goblet of thrills? Then, set aside a few days this month for the Medieval Rose Festival, when the whole town is carried away on a wave of revels and merriment Middle Ages style. Since 2006, the Municipality of Rhodes and the Prefecture of the Dodecanese have had historians, archaeologists, musicians, actors, visual artists and craftspeople putting heart and soul into making this event as exhilarating as possible. Three blasts on the trumpet herald its beginning with the spectacular Parade of the Order of the Knights, in all their finery. Everywhere you look, there are decorations, stalls with all kinds of traditional handicrafts and food dishes. Music rings out joyously and you can dance and sing along for as long as your stamina lasts. Amidst all the fun and jolly japes, the real trick is that you and your loved ones are learning so much about history and culture without even noticing! If only all history lessons were like this!

Of course, if you’re looking for one of the tastiest trips through history, you need look no further than one of Greece’s longest standing yet vibrant traditions, the art of wine making. Head for the village of Embonas on Rhodes at the end of August to find Dionysus, the God of fruitfulness, wine and general good times, offering you a sip or ten of something nice and some delicious grape-based desserts, with a side helping of music, dancing and fun. Welcome to the biggest wine festival of the island, organized by the Attavyros Cultural Association with support of the Region of South Aegean and DOPAR and now well into its 60s. Basking in the glow of late summer in the shade of Mount Attavyros, making friends and savouring the sight of all the hillside vineyards along with the wines themselves, you’ll feel the inner warmth of returning to an innocent agrarian age stretching back to antiquity when life was somehow less complicated and brimming with natural tastes and colours. With the five biggest wineries on Rhodes and many smaller producers too, Embonas takes great pride in their cherished event, making sure that not only do you enjoy yourself but come away from the festival with a real appreciation of the island’s rich heritage of wine production, all the way from grape seed to glass.

Just like the viral photo of the woman with the mobile phone in 1928, the past and present have always sat intriguingly side by side on Rhodes. Bringing you right up to date but still energized by the island’s special multicultural dynamo and historical radiance, is the Museum of Modern Greek Art. Inspired by its original founder, art visionary, Andreas Ioannou, the museum has always striven to forge close links with artists, critics, gallery owners, local and international institutions and collectors, constantly re-inventing itself with fresh perspectives. Walk into any one of its four showrooms and you will find a gateway to modern Greek art that allows you to learn more about this world, form your own personal relationship with what it has to offer and contribute to the cultural dialogue that surrounds it. Oh, and it’s fun too, with a stream of engaging exhibitions, getting-art-out-there initiatives, educational workshops, cultural events, recitals, book presentations and conferences. In addition to the Ioannou building and the Paleo Sissitio, a vast new wing of the Nestorideion Melathron is gaining quite a reputation as the main hub of local cultural life, pulling in strands of social character, ethnicity, history, folklore, creativity and evolving attitudes from around Rhodes and beyond.

Do you get it? This time travelling thing, it’s a breeze. And nobody does it better than Rhodes. Book your stay at Rodos Park and become part of the past, present and future of our wondrous island. And don’t forget to look out for more upcoming events and experiences that remind you of the value of escaping to wherever your imagination takes you.