81. Mansion of Ladas
Brief documentation:
It was erected in the early 20th century, probably by Philippopolitan craftsmen, in the district of the Akathist Hymn. It belonged to the family of Sotirios Ladas (1831-1910), one of the most famous families of the city, which traded ironmongery and glassware. The son of the family Gabriel (1896-1986) served as a second lieutenant of the Engineer in the Greek Army and headed the forces that entered the city on October 4, 1919, ending the Bulgarian occupation of 1912-1919. He also served as Mayor of the city from 1959 to 1964.
It is an imposing three-storey mansion of bourgeois character. The architectural style of the building is influenced by neoclassicism. Its exterior includes a number of decorative elements, such as false pillars with false capitals, a cornice between the first and second floors, as well as the coronation of the masonry, elaborate ironwork on the windows and clay antefixes at the corners of the roof.
The entrance to the courtyard of the mansion is through an imposing gate, which then leads to a large staircase that leads to the arched main entrance of the building. The courtyard of the mansion is surrounded by an iron railing, which is decorated with propellers and spears.
Category of thematic interest: ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST
History:
The building was designed from the beginning to function as a residence. It does not seem to have changed use since its inception.
It was erected in the early 20th century, probably by a group of Plovdiv craftsmen. It is located in the district of the Akathist Hymn and belonged to the Ladas family.
They are one of the most famous families in the city. The son of the family Gabriel served as a second lieutenant of the Engineer in the Greek Army and was in charge of the forces that entered the city on October 4, 1919, ending the Bulgarian occupation of 1912-1919. He also served as Mayor of the city from 1959 to 1964.
Elements of architecture:
It is an imposing three-storey mansion of bourgeois character, which is built according to the standards of neoclassicism. The exterior of the building is constructed with symmetry and includes a number of decorative elements, such as false pillars with false capitals, a cornice between the first and second floors, as well as the coronation of the masonry, elaborate iron railing on the windows, some of which are colorful, and clay antefixes at the corners of the roof.
The entrance to the courtyard of the mansion is through an imposing gate, which then leads to a large staircase that leads to the arched main entrance of the building.
Description of other elements:
The courtyard of the mansion is surrounded by an iron railing, which is decorated with propellers and spears.
Purpose - Use: Residence
Characterization: Ministry of Culture/DILAP/G/3247/11732/26-02-1991
Dating (period): Early 20th century
Year of construction: About 1900
Location of the monument: 41.144507, 24.886216
Bibliographic references:
• Dimitris Mavridis, Angelophylaktos Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou, Xanthi 2007
• Dimitris Mavridis, Houses of Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou – DEAX, Xanthi 2009
• Xanthi. The city with a thousand colors, Municipality of Xanthi – P.A.K.E.THRA., Xanthi 2008
• Aivaliotis Vasilios, Papazisi-Adamantidou Sofia, "From the Mademochoria of Halkidiki to Genisea and Xanthi. The Ladas family and its relationship with the Zekos families, Zouliami, Karaletsou, Karydi, Michaloglou, Bouzatzoglou, Hartzidi and Hasirtzoglou". Xanthi: PAKETHRA, 2010.
• Katsari-Vafiadis, J. Ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: Municipality of Xanthi, p. 122
Address: Pygmalionos Christidi 45
Visitable: No