Neoclassical and eclectic buildings of Old Xanthi
This route is about 3 km, about 80 minutes and of moderate difficulty. It starts from Antikas Square and ends at the border of the old town with the modern city to the west. Through this route, the visitor has the opportunity to get to know the practice of neoclassicism and eclecticism, as expressed in about 50 buildings of old Xanthi.

Neoclassicism appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries and is strongly influenced by the principles governing the architecture of classical antiquity. The buildings are distinguished for the simplicity of their geometric forms, the Doric detail, the simplicity, the absolute symmetry, the dividing lines of the vertical spreads and the pilasters with false capitals at the corners.

Eclecticism, on the other hand, is the architectural style of the 19th and 20th centuries, in which a variety of elements from various eras and styles are selected and used, in a single building. The eclectic buildings in Xanthi are influenced by neoclassicism (e.g. absolute symmetry, verticality), while individual elements are influenced by Art Deco (e.g. strong decorative mood), central Europe (e.g. turret roof configuration or turret development), English Baroque (e.g. the use of red brick) and Romanesque style (e.g. arched openings and curved arches).

13. House of Kountoglou – Alata

Brief documentation:

This house was built in the district of Kavaki, near the Christian church of Pammegistoi Taxiarchs, during the late Ottoman period by Kyriakos Kountoglou and in 1911 it was sold to colonial goods dealer Leonidas Alatas. In 1929 the building was resold by him to Loukas Tsolakidis, who was also a merchant by profession. A few years after his death, in 1976, his wife sold this house to a relative, Emmanuel Vafiadis. Today the building still serves as a residence.
It is a two-story tiled residence of middle class character, which is built with symmetry and according to the standards of neoclassicism. It has a semi-basement, ground floor and upper floor. The exterior of the building includes quite simple decoration with false pillars and false capitals, a stepped cornice on the windows but also between the ground floor and the first floor, as well as on the coronation of the masonry. There are also elaborate iron bars with propellers on the ground floor windows.


Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST


History:

This house was built during the late Ottoman period by Kyriakos Kountoglou in the district of Kavaki and in 1911 it was sold to the colonial merchant Leonidas Alatas. In 1929 the building was bought by Loukas Tsolakidis, who was also a merchant by profession. A few years after his death, in 1976, his wife sold this house to a relative, Emmanuel Vafiadis. Today the building still serves as a residence.


Elements of architecture:

It is a two-storey tiled residence of middle class character, which is built with symmetry and according to the standards of neoclassicism. It has a semi-basement, ground floor and upper floor. The exterior of the building includes quite simple decoration with false pillars and false capitals, a stepped cornice on the windows but also between the ground floor and the first floor, as well as on the coronation of the masonry.


Description of other elements:

There are elaborate iron bars with propellers on the windows of the ground floor.


Purpose - Use: Residence


Characterization: Preservable, Institution of the Ministry of Education, Category "A", Decision 5385, Government Gazette 1097/95


Dating (period): Early 20th century


Year of construction: Early 20th century


Monument location: 41.144640, 24.889309


Bibliographic references:

•    Thomas Exarchou, Islets of Xanthi 2, Xanthi 2003
•    Katsari-Vafiadis, J. Ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: Municipality of Xanthi, p. 66


 Address: Orfeos 66


Visitable: No

 

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