Famous for their superb beaches, the Dodecanese islands, the easternmost and southernmost archipelago in the Aegean Sea, stretch along the west coast of Turkey. This geographical location means that they enjoy very favourable weather conditions all year round. Rhodes is reputed to be the sunniest island in Europe, offering a delightful mix of beautiful beaches and remarkable remains, direct testimony to the various influences that have forged its unique cultural identity. It is also a mountainous and agricultural island, where the interior remains essentially wild and austere, although there are still some beautiful, traditional and picturesque villages. Rhodes is Greece's third-largest island, so the best way to discover its many facets is to hire a car, or even a scooter, and set off along the roads in search of what makes Rhodes different from the other Greek islands.