63. Moses’s inn
Brief documentation:
The building was built by the Jewish tobacco merchant Aaron Moses and is one of the 53 inns (hotels) that Xanthi had during its heyday. The development of tobacco cultivation, processing and trade resulted in the attraction of travelers and merchants to the city of Xanthi. This situation resulted in the reconstruction of many lodgings (inns) from 1860 to 1910, which amounted to a total of 53. Some of these inns continued to function as inns until the 1970s.
This building, built by the tobacco merchant Moses, was formed around a courtyard, a central open space, necessary for the maneuvering of carts and carriages. Around it, rooms were arranged on the first floor with a closed balcony partially preserved today, on the left side of the building. On the ground floor of the building there were stables for animals. The entrance, which is not preserved in its entirety today, was arched, large enough to accommodate a cart, was located on Mavromichali Street and closed at night for security reasons. The complex is probably built by craftsmen from Epirus and follows the standards of Balkan architecture.
Today a part of it is preserved, while its south side and part of the west side have been demolished. Part of it belongs to a private owner and part of it to the Municipality of Xanthi, which grants it to a Cultural Association of the city, to function as one of the hangouts in the Old Xanthi Festivals.
Category of thematic interest: ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST
History:
he building was built by the Jewish tobacco merchant Aaron Moses and is one of the 53 inns (hotels) that Xanthi had during its heyday. The development of tobacco cultivation, processing and trade resulted in the attraction of travelers and merchants to the city of Xanthi. This situation resulted in the reconstruction of many lodgings (inns) from 1860 to 1910, which amounted to a total of 53. Some of these inns continued to function as inns until the 1970s.
Elements of architecture:
The building was formed around a courtyard, a central open space. Around it, rooms were arranged on the first floor with a closed balcony, which are partially preserved today on the left side of the building. On the ground floor of the building there were stables for animals. The entrance, which is not preserved in its entirety today, was arched, large enough to accommodate a cart, was located on Mavromichali Street and closed at night for security reasons.
The complex is probably built by craftsmen from Epirus and follows the standards of Balkan architecture. In the 1970s the inn was damaged due to fires (based on oral testimonies). Today a part of it is preserved, while its south side and part of the west side have been demolished.
Description of other elements:
t has a traditional and folk character and is enclosed with a few openings on the surrounding walls. The interior of the courtyard consists of a large empty space for the maneuvers of carts and carriages. The inn included a coffeehouse, a two-storey building with 20 rooms, a stable and a storage room. Its total area is 941 sqm. The inn had its own water supply.
Purpose - Use: Hotel, Residence, Cultural space
Characterization: Preserved, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/3246/69828, Government Gazette 142/83
Dating (period): Late 19th century
Year of construction: Late 19th century
Location of the monument: 41.14244738219298, 24.887928870077626
Bibliographic references:
• Strapatsaki, V. 2009. "The Inn of Mavromichali Street in Xanthi: Restoration and Exploitation" (double work).
• Zarkada, C. 1982. "The hans of Xanthi", Thracian Chronicles 37: 189–207.
• Danis, D. 2018. "Management and Promotion of Listed Buildings of the Ministry of Culture in the city of Xanthi through a Geographical Information System".
• Georgantzis, P. 1983. "The hans of Xanthi and their contribution to the formation of the city", Thracian Chronicles 38: 133–38.
Address: Mavromichali 4
Visitable: No