In the neighborhood of Kavaki
The route is about 1 km long, lasts about 50 minutes and is of moderate difficulty. It gives the visitor the opportunity to explore the so-called Kavaki, a picturesque district at the southeastern end of old Xanthi, located in the immediate vicinity of the river Kosynthos.

The district was named after a poplar tree (kavaki) that is said to have existed in the courtyard of the church of Pammegistoi Taxiarchs, a three-aisled basilica inextricably linked to the area. Starting from the homonymous square, the traveler will be able to see small and large traditional buildings, which coexist in narrow streets and compose the landscape of a neighborhood, which was created by tobacco workers and small professionals.

Alongside these buildings, however, other impressive ones coexist, such as the Mega Kin Cinema, the Karadimoglou Mansion and the Xenia Hotel, where the route ends. Thus, the visitor can explore the harmonious coexistence of traditional and modern architectural elements, which characterize the city of Xanthi and are perfectly expressed in the district of Kavaki.

21. Mega Kin Cinema

Brief documentation:

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Mega Kin cinema was created in Xanthi, which is considered one of the first cinemas in the European part of the Ottoman Empire. The building that housed the cinema was probably built in 1905 and was used from the beginning for this purpose. Initially, it seems that the cinema belonged to an Ottoman, while in 1911 it became the property of Victor Fernández, director of the Commercial Company of Salonica. Its operation continued in the following decades. From the early 1930s it took the name Elysée. In 1978 it was bought by Aikaterini (b.1935), wife of Ioannis Filippidis. The building, after its resale, functioned as a nightclub, while it is no longer used.
It is a large-volume, simple but imposing tiled building, which is constructed in Art Nouveau and Art Deco style. The south side of the building rests on a massive retaining wall, which enhanced the stability of the building, as an older secondary bed of the river Kosynthos passed through that point, which was drained in 1914. On the same side the building had a decorative turret on the roof, which is not preserved today.
Externally, geometric lines dominate, with small decorative embossed elements in Art Nouveau and Art Deco style. The interior of the building consists of a single large projection hall with an elevated stage, as well as for theatrical performances.


Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST


History:

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Mega Kin cinema was created in Xanthi, which is considered one of the first cinemas in the European part of the Ottoman Empire. The building that housed the cinema was probably built in 1905 and was used from the beginning for this purpose. Initially, it seems that the cinema belonged to an Ottoman, while in 1911 it became the property of Victor Fernández, director of the Commercial Company of Salonica. Its operation continued in the following decades. From the early 1930s it took the name Elysée. In 1978 it was bought by Aikaterini (b.1935), wife of Ioannis Filippidis. The building, after its resale, functioned as a nightclub, while it is no longer used.


Elements of architecture:

It is a large-volume, simple but imposing tiled building, which is constructed in Art Nouveau and Art Deco style. The south side of the building rests on a massive retaining wall, which enhanced the stability of the building, as an older secondary bed of the river Kosynthos passed through that point, which was drained in 1914. On the same side the building had a decorative turret on the roof, which is not preserved today.


Description of other elements:

Externally, geometric lines dominate, with small decorative embossed elements in Art Nouveau and Art Deco style. The interior of the building consists of a single large projection hall with an elevated stage, as well as for theatrical performances.


Purpose - Use: Cultural site


Characterization: Preservable, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/776/12456, Government Gazette 215/88


Dating (period): Early 20th century


Year of construction: Early 20th century


Location of the monument: 41.14318000765746, 24.888246075441664


Bibliographic references:

•    Katsari-Vafiadis, J. Ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: Municipality of Xanthi, p. 95
•    Thomas Exarchou, Islets Polis Xanthi 2, P.A.KE.THRA., Xanthi 2003
•    Stefanos Ioannidis, "Xanthi 1870 – 1920. Elements from its history", Thracian Chronicles, tx. 36 (1981), pp. 11 – 42 


 Address: Vas. Sofias 7A and Pindarou 2


Visitable: No

 

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