10. Mansion of Karadimoglou – Political Affairs Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Brief documentation:
The building was built in 1928 by the tobacco merchant Fokion Karadimoglou. After changing various uses (King Paul Foundation, "German Gallery"), in 1994 it was sold to the National Bank, in 1998 it was bought by the Greek State and the Political Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was installed in the building.
In this area there was a very important building of the city, which was destroyed in 1913 after a fire. It was the famous "Apollon" Theater of Xanthi. This theatre was built in the late 19th century by Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos and his wife Eleni Kougioumtzoglou. "Apollon" was a symbol of the golden age of Xanthi, as its operation was associated with the period of economic prosperity of the city. It was the only theatrical stage in the wider area from Istanbul to Thessaloniki and put Xanthi on the map of theatrical tours of that time.
Various troupes with important female protagonists of that time performed at the Apollo Theater. It is even said that the internationally renowned French actress Sarah Bernhardt was in the city as a guest of the Club of the Greek Orthodox Community and gave a certain number of performances in this theater.
Today's Karadimoglou mansion is a bourgeois residence, in Art Deco style, which combines neoclassical elements with other eclectic elements. It has two octagonal turrets, with elaborate decorative elements and balconies (terraces). In its original form, the balcony at the entrance of the building was enclosed with glazing. The building has a large garden with tall trees.
Category of thematic interest: ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST
History:
The building was built in 1928 by the tobacco merchant Fokion Karadimoglou. After changing various uses (King Paul Foundation, "German Gallery"), in 1994 it was sold to the National Bank, in 1998 it was bought by the Greek State and the Political Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was installed in the building.
In this area there was a very important building of the city, which was destroyed in 1913 after a fire. It was the famous "Apollon" Theater of Xanthi. This theatre was built in the late 19th century by Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos, a senior official of the Ottoman tobacco monopoly and landowner, and his wife Eleni Kougioumtzoglou. "Apollon" was a symbol of the golden age of Xanthi, as its operation during the first decade of the 20th century was associated with the period of economic prosperity of the city. It was the only theatrical stage of professional standards in the wider area from Istanbul to Thessaloniki and put Xanthi on the map of theatrical tours of that time.
Various companies with important protagonists of that time, such as Aikaterini Veroni, Sofia Tavoulari and Evangelia Paraskevopoulou, gave performances at the Apollon Theater. It is even said that the internationally renowned French actress Sarah Bernhardt was in the city as a guest of the Club of the Greek Orthodox Community and gave a certain number of performances in this theater.
Elements of architecture:
It is a large urban residence, in Art Deco style, which combines neoclassical elements with other, eclectic elements and. It has two octagonal turrets, with elaborate decorative elements and balconies (terraces).
Description of other elements:
In its original form, the balcony at the entrance of the building was enclosed with glazing. The building has a large garden with tall trees.
Purpose - Use: Cultural space, Residence, Administrative building
Characterization: Preservable, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/50/294, Government Gazette 84/88
Dating (period): Interwar period
Year of construction: 1928
Monument location: 41.14364261872578, 24.888447070311145
Bibliographic references:
• Stefanos Ioannidis, "A professional guide of 1910 – 1911. Professions and professionals of Xanthi", Thracian Chronicles v.x. 32 (1976), pp. 27 – 41
• "The Apollo Theater and the ... Queen Xanthippe of Xanthi", Thracian Chronicles, tx. 38 (1983), pp. 238 – 239
• "A letter of Charilaos Blatsios", Thracian Chronicles, vol. 37 (1982), pp. 19 – 20
• Katsari-Vafiadis, J. Ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: Municipality of Xanthi, p. 57.
Address: Orfeos 24
Visitable: No