Architectural tour in Old Xanthi (80')
This route is about 3 km, about 80 minutes and of moderate difficulty. It covers almost the entire area of Old Xanthi, starting from the west and the mansion of Muzafer Bey and ending at the district of Ydragogeiou Street in the north.

Through it and the more than 50 buildings it includes, the visitor will get to know extensively the architecture of Old Xanthi. Walking through its alleys you will observe the morphological features of the mansions and houses, the shops, the schools, the churches and the metropolitan mansion, the inns, community buildings, the mosques, as well as the way in which all these are integrated into the urban fabric of the city. At the same time, he will be initiated into the architectural trends of neoclassicism, eclecticism and traditional architecture, as expressed in the various buildings of the old town.

04. Metropolitan Mansion

Brief documentation:

The Metropolitan Mansion was built in 1897, at the request of Metropolitan Joachim Sgouros in 1892 in the Greek community Council of the city. The Mansion was built to house the services of the Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou, which until then was housed in a private house, but also to be the residence of each Metropolitan. The Metropolitan Palace continues to have the same function uninterruptedly, from its foundation until today.

According to the Minutes of the Council, the money required for its construction would come a) from the amounts due to a loan from the Ottoman authorities to Greek residents of the area and b) from the withholding of a daily wage from the tobacco workers, which would be made after consultation of the Council with the local tobacco merchants. The Metropolitan Mansion is a neoclassical building, with an imposing appearance and absolute symmetry of facades and floor plans. The false pediments in the windows of the upper floor, as well as the imposing entrance, with the arched lintels and the large balcony characterize the main façade of the building.

Inside there is a spacious hall, as well as reception areas for visitors and listening rooms. On the back, north side of the building, in the large window of the staircase there is an impressive skylight, painted with the technique of stained glass.

The building has similarities to the metropolitan mansion in Ohrid in the state of North Macedonia and may have been built by the same architect. The building was renovated in 1998 at the expense of the State.


Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST


History:

The Metropolitan Mansion was built in 1897, at the request of Metropolitan Joachim Sgouros in 1892 in the Greek community Council of the city. The Mansion was built to house the services of the Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou, but also to be the residence of each Metropolitan. The Metropolitan Mansion continues to operate uninterruptedly, from its establishment until today.


Elements of architecture:

It is a neoclassical building, with an imposing appearance and absolute symmetry of facades and floor plans. The false pediments in the windows of the upper floor, as well as the imposing entrance, with the arched lintels and the large balcony characterize the main façade of the building. Inside there is a spacious hall, as well as reception areas for visitors and listening rooms. The building has similarities with the metropolitan mansion in Ohrid in the state of North Macedonia and may have been built by the same architect. The building was renovated in 1998 at the expense of the State.


Description of other elements:

On the back, north side of the building, in the large window of the staircase there is an impressive skylight, painted with the technique of stained glass.


Purpose - Use: Church building


Characterization: Preserved, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/11/63051, Government Gazette 73/86


Dating (period): Late 19th century


Year of construction: 1897


Monument location: 41.144454084213855, 24.88792894720306


Bibliographic references:

•    Dimitris Mavridis, Angelophylaktos Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou, Xanthi 2007
•    ΠP. Kalafatis, Minutes of the Eldership, Code A', Session V of 19 June 1892, p. 21.


 Address: Mitropolitou Anthimou 1


Visitable: No

 

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