Buildings of traditional architecture in Old Xanthi

This route is about 1 km, about 50 minutes and of moderate difficulty. Starting from the heart of the Old Town and ending at Lefkou Pyrgou Street, the visitor will get to know the houses and mansions of the old Xanthi built according to the principles of traditional architecture.

They can be distinguished by their structural materials, such as stone, wood and the so-called "tsatma" (mixture of clay and straw on braided reeds, wood). A key element of traditional architecture is the "sachnisi", the wooden or metal corbels that supported the projections of the floor, etc.

Many morphological elements are similar to those of houses in Epirus and Macedonia, a fact that is explained by the well-known mobility of building groups, from Epirus and Western Macedonia to the whole of northern Greece. Especially after the earthquakes of 1829, which leveled Xanthi, the well-known stonemasons from these areas are considered to have come and rebuilt the city.

Points Expand/Collapse

20. House of 1849

Brief documentation:

The construction of this building is placed in the middle of the 19th century and specifically in 1849, according to the relief inscription on the corner of the building.
It is a typical building of folk architecture, which was used from the beginning as a residence. The ground floor and mezzanine have thick stone walls, while the first floor has thin wooden frame walls (tsatma) and many windows. The first floor was mainly intended for accommodation in the summer months, while the mezzanine with a few windows for accommodation in winter. On the ground floor the auxiliary storage and working areas were located. A characteristic feature of the building and the traditional architecture are the protrusions of the upper floor, i.e. the large sachnisi that offer more space on the first floor, better lighting and view.
This building is the oldest dated house in Xanthi, based on the inscription on the corner on Orfeos Street that mentions the year of construction (after the catastrophic earthquakes of 1829). Below the date there is a relief female breast, which is a sign of the Epirote craftsmen who built the house and a greeting symbol of prosperity. At the same time, in the beveled corner, a relief flower is formed inside a circular frame.

Category of thematic interest: ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST

History:

The construction of this building is placed in the middle of the 19th century and specifically in 1849, according to the relief inscription on the corner of the building.

Elements of architecture:

It is a typical building of folk architecture, which was used from the beginning as a residence. The ground floor and mezzanine have thick stone walls, while the first floor has thin walls and many windows. The first floor was mainly intended for accommodation in the summer months, while the mezzanine with a few windows for accommodation in winter. On the ground floor the auxiliary storage and working areas were located. A characteristic feature of the building and the traditional architecture are the protrusions of the upper floor, i.e. the large sachnisi that offer more space on the first floor, better lighting and view.

Description of other elements:

his building is the oldest dated house in Xanthi, based on the inscription on the corner on Orfeos Street that mentions the year of construction (after the catastrophic earthquakes of 1829). Below the date there is an embossed female breast, which is a sign of the craftsmen from Epirus who built the house and a greeting symbol of prosperity. At the same time, in the beveled corner, a relief flower is formed inside a circular frame.

Purpose - Use: Residence

Characterization: Preservable, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/108/5352, Government Gazette 91/90

Dating (period): Mid-19th century

Year of construction: 1849

Monument location: 41.14391, 24.88872

Bibliographic references:

• D. Mavridis (ed.). Xanthi, the city with a thousand colors. Xanthi, PAKETHRA 2008, p. 193

Address: Silivrias 2

Visitable: No