Butterflies Valley
Butterflies Valley (Petaloudes)
Only 10 km from the airport and 25 km from the City of Rhodes, you can visit the famous Valley of the Butterflies. This is a habitat with dense flora, breathtaking natural beauty, harmonious structures of bridges with the environment, paved paths, ponds, small inexhaustible waterfalls, serene atmosphere and a unique experience for the visitors. The only sound the visitors can hear there is the chirping of the cicadas and the murmuring of the cool water. An excellent place for families with children who wish to enjoy the beauties of nature and examine the life cycle of butterflies as part of their summer holiday.
About the Butterfly
The habitat is the summer refuge of the butterfly with the scientific name Panaxia Quadripunctaria. The butterfly rests on tree trunks and rocks during the day. Resting, it has the shape of an equilateral triangle. Its forewings are black-brown in color with white-yellow streaks. Her hind wings are red with four black spots. It feeds on nectar and water. In “Petaloudes” the butterfly appears in mid-June and migrates in late September.
The 600-acre Butterfly Valley belongs to the Natura 2000 network and is located on the north-western side of Rhodes, 26 km from the city of Rhodes and 6 km from its west coast, between the villages “Paradisi” and “Theologos”. The Pelekanos River crosses the entire Valley. At the bottom of the site is the Natural History Museum, which exhibits specimens of both the flora and fauna of the island along with butterfly species from around the world. A specially formed, uphill path through trees, small waterfalls, wooden bridges and small lakes leads to the Monastery of Panagia Kalopetra, at the top of the Valley.
