Families of Old Xanthi
This route is about 2 km, lasting about 60 minutes and of moderate difficulty. In it you will meet the families of old Xanthi, who in various ways contributed to the history of Xanthi, but also to the form that the old town has today. Touring the residences of old families of Xanthi, rather unknown aspects of their family stories will unfold and important personalities of the city will be pulled out of oblivion.

Some of the most important families of the Greek Orthodox community are: Chasirtzoglou, Stalios, Sigalas, Valixoglou, Michaloglou, Metaxas, Leontaridis, Blatsios, Angelos, Alexiou, Kalevras, Kougioumtzoglou, Kaloudis, Adamides, Christidis, Karadimoglou, Alatas. Also important were the families of Ottoman commanders, such as Hamdi Bey, Muzaffer Bey, Hilmi Pasha and Memet Pasha, as well as the Jewish families of Aaron Moses and the Cohens.

Through this route, the population composition of the city will be revealed, the religions combination that existed and exists until today, the economic and social stratification in direct correlation with the type and form of residence and the type of professions developed. Many names, marking streets in old Xanthi, will come alive and will be understood through this route.

12. Mansion of Christidis

Brief documentation:

This mansion was erected during the last decade of the 19th century by the tobacco merchant Apostolos Christidis. After his death the building passed into the ownership of his son Christos, who was also involved in the tobacco trade. The building to this day remains the property of descendants of the family.
It is an imposing two-story mansion of bourgeois character, which was built according to the standards of neoclassicism. The building is built with symmetry and includes quite simple decoration. The main entrance of the building is roofed, includes an external staircase and large windows, while it supports the central and spacious balcony of the house. In addition, there are smaller balconies, which have simple ironwork.
In the living room of the mansion there is a ceiling painting, which was created by the well-known painter Lefteris Kounis, while a similar light painting decoration of the same artist is found in one of the bedrooms of the house. The building has a large courtyard with an imposing fountain in the center. Around the courtyard there is an iron rail, which is decorated with propellers and spears.
According to oral testimonies, in today's large garden there were originally houses and shops, which were bought and demolished, to enlarge and beautify the place, but also the view from the balcony of the house.


Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST


History:

It was erected during the last decade of the 19th century by the tobacco merchant Apostolos Christidis. After his death the building passed into the ownership of his son Christos, who was also involved in the tobacco trade. The building to this day remains the property of descendants of the family.


Elements of architecture:

It is an imposing two-storey mansion of bourgeois character, which was built according to the standards of neoclassicism. The building is built with symmetry and includes quite simple decoration. The main entrance of the building is roofed, includes an external staircase and large windows, while it supports the central and spacious balcony of the house. In addition, there are smaller balconies, which have simple ironwork.


Description of other elements:

In the living room of the mansion there is a ceiling painting, which was created by the well-known painter Lefteris Kounis, while a similar light painting decoration of the same artist is also found in one of the bedrooms of the house. The building has a large courtyard with an imposing fountain in the center. Around the courtyard there is an iron rail, which is decorated with propellers and spears. According to oral testimonies, in today's large garden there were originally houses and shops, which were bought and demolished, to enlarge and beautify the place, but also the view from the balcony of the house.


Purpose - Use: Residence


Characterization: Preserved, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/11/63051 Government Gazette 73/86


Dating (period): Late 19th century


Year of construction: Late 19th century


Monument location: 41.143910, 24.888296


Bibliographic references:

•    Thomas Exarchou, Islets of the City of Xanthi, P.A.KE.THRA., Xanthi 2003
•    Eleni Kouni, Vasilis Aivaliotis, Sofia Adamantidou, Lefteris Kounis and jewelry in Xanthi, P.A.KE.THRA. – d.e.a.x., Xanthi 2006
•    Katsari-Vafiadis, J. ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: MUNICIPALITY OF XANTHI, P. 60


 Address: Orfeos 51


Visitable: No

 

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