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.

19. Bachzetzis House

Brief documentation:

The building was built around 1880, by the gardener by profession Konstantinos Bachzetzis. In 1979 this building was bought by the well-known composer Manos Hadjidakis, having returned to his hometown to organize here the new institution of "Music Festivals". He bought the building to serve the organizational needs of the institution. Eventually he was unable to complete the project, as there was no support from the local authorities, and in 1982 the building was sold again. Until today the building remains uninhabited.
It is a simple, two-storey building made of stonework made of hewn local granite. It has a semi-basement, ground floor and first floor. A stone cornice separates the floors of the main façade, and hollow cornices surround the roof.
The main façade of the building is coated with mortar that mimics the isodomic system. Of particular interest is the raised, curved skylight above the entrance, as well as the elaborate iron bars on the windows, made of cast iron in local workshops of the time and protecting the openings.

Category of thematic interest: ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST

History:

The building was built around 1880, by the gardener by profession Konstantinos Bachzetzis. In 1979 this building was bought by the well-known composer Manos Hadjidakis, having returned to his hometown to organize here the new institution of "Music Festivals". He bought the building to serve the organizational needs of the institution. Eventually he was unable to complete the project, as there was no support from the local authorities, and in 1982 the building was sold again.
Until today the building remains uninhabited.

Elements of architecture:

It is a simple, two-storey building made of stonework made of hewn local granite. It has a semi-basement, ground floor and first floor.
A stone cornice separates the floors of the main façade, and hollow cornices surround the roof.
Of particular interest is the raised, curved skylight above the entrance, as well as the elaborate iron bars on the windows, made of cast iron in local workshops of the time and protecting the openings.

Description of other elements:

Its main façade is coated with mortar imitating the isodomic system.

Purpose - Use: Residence, Cultural space

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: Around 1880

Monument location: 41.14379, 24.88767

Bibliographic references:

• V. Aivaliotis. "Blonde, sweet stepmother." Xanthi: PAKETHRA 2007, p. 59

Address: Antikas 11

Visitable: No