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European and Byzantine art in 19th century Xanthi
The route is about 1 km long, lasts about 60 minutes and is of moderate difficulty. In it, the visitor with artistic interests and quests will have the opportunity to get acquainted with European and Byzantine art, as expressed in buildings of old Xanthi in the 19th century.

Starting from the Michaloglou Mansions in the district of Agios Vlasios and ending at the church of Pammegistoi Taxiarchs, one will visit the churches of old Xanthi, representative samples of the post-Byzantine period, while in the buildings of secular architecture one will admire ceiling paintings and frescoes, of the so-called Belle Époque (1871-1914).

In the old churches it is worth observing the portable icons that carry strong western iconographic influences, which are mixed with traditional Byzantine standards and follow theological concepts after the conquest. They are created either by workshops active in Thrace or northern Greece (e.g. the workshop of Ainos), or by the Mount Athos workshop (e.g. the painters Nikiforos and his student Ioasaf), or by individual painters (e.g. Nikolaos from Hasköy in Constantinople, Thassios M. Evangelidis, Patrinos Takis Prionas).

It is also worth noting the crucifix in the Church of Agios Georgios, a work of Fotis Kontoglou (1959), the embroidered icon of Archangel Michael in the Church of the Taxiarchs, the marble relief candlestand in the Church of Agios Vlasios.

On the other hand, in the rich neoclassical residences one can see works of Bavarian or German painters, such as the frescoes in the Houses of Kougioumtzoglou, Stavropoulos and Michaloglou or the goddesses from the twelve Gods, which adorn the staircase of the Metaxas House. Of interest are the ceiling paintings with decorative and floral motifs in the Daniel Mansion and the Moses Mansion, while a unique example of neoclassical sculpture in the city is the statue in the courtyard of the Church of Agios Georgios.

39. Michaloglou Mansions

Brief documentation:

The residential complex of the Michaloglou family was built during the last decade of the 19th century in the district of Agios Vlasios.
The complex consists of four identical residences built by tobacco merchant Ioannis Michaloglou from Gjerbes in Korçë in N. Epirus, for four of his sons out of the six children he had. For his eldest son Gabriel he built another house opposite this complex (Ag. Vlasios 28-30), while his daughter was endowed with sums of money and gold pounds.
The construction of this complex at that time coincides with the period of economic prosperity of Xanthi, when the wider area of the districts of Agios Georgios and Agios Vlasios, with the numerous mansions of tobacco merchants who were then active around the exploitation of tobacco products ,was developed.
The buildings are eclectic with neoclassicism dominating. Throughout the complex of buildings their exterior is organized with absolute symmetry and includes brick decoration of red color. The main entrance to all four residences protrudes, is roofed and supports large balconies, decorated with local ironwork. Above the elevated ground floor the first floor of each building is organized. In two of the residences there is extensive painting decoration inside (with ceiling paintings and frescoes), which was realized in the years 1927-1928 by the famous jewelers George and Nikolaos Maltzis, from Aivali of Asia Minor and Lefteris Kounis.
In front of each of the 4 residences there is a small courtyard, surrounded by an iron courtyard, which is decorated with propellers and spears.

Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST

History:

The residential complex of the Michaloglou family was built during the last decade of the 19th century in the district of Agios Vlasios.
The complex consists of four identical residences built by tobacco merchant Ioannis Michaloglou from Gjerbes in Korçë in N. Epirus, for four boys out of six children he had. For his eldest son Gabriel he built another house opposite this complex (Ag. Vlasios 28-30), while his daughter was endowed with sums of money and gold pounds.

The construction of this complex at that time coincides with the period of economic prosperity of Xanthi, when the wider area of the districts of Agios Georgios and Agios Vlasios, with the numerous mansions of tobacco merchants who were then active around the exploitation of tobacco products, was developed.

Elements of architectureς:

The buildings are eclectic with neoclassicism dominating. Throughout the complex of buildings their exterior is organized with absolute symmetry and includes brick decoration of red color. The main entrance to all four residences protrudes, is roofed and supports large balconies, decorated with local ironwork. Above the elevated ground floor is organized the first floor of each building. In two of the residences there is extensive painting decoration inside (with ceiling paintings and frescoes), which was realized in the years 1927-1928 by the famous jewelers George and Nikolaos Maltzis, from Aivali of Asia Minor and Lefteris Kounis.

Description of other elements:

In front of each of the 4 residences there is a small courtyard, surrounded by an iron courtyard, which is decorated with propellers and spears.

Purpose - Use: Residence

Characterization: Preserved, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/3250/9491, Government Gazette 142/91

Dating (period): Circa 1890

Year of construction: 1893-1897

Location of the monument: 41.141060434666464, 24.884868982198547

Bibliographic references:

•    Dimitris Mavridis, Houses of Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou - D.E.A.X., Xanthi 2009
•    Dimitris Mavridis, Angelophylaktos Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou, Xanthi 2006
•    Dimitris Mavridis, Craftsmanship and Meraki in old Xanthi, D.E.A.X. – P.A.KE.THRA., XANTHI 2005
•    Eleni Kouni, Vasilis Aivaliotis, Sofia Adamantidou, Lefteris Kounis and jewelry in Xanthi, D.E.A.X. - P.A.KE.THRA., Xanthi 2006
•    Katsari-Vafiadis, J. Ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: MUNICIPALITY OF XANTHI, P. 170

 Address: Agiou Vlasiou 25-31

Visitable: No

 

35. Daniel Mansion – Multiplex of Art and Thought 35. Daniel Mansion – Multiplex of Art and Thought 41. Metaxas Mansion 41. Metaxas Mansion
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