The cultural and folklore character in Xanthi of yesterday and today
The route is about 800 meters long, lasts about 50 minutes and is of low difficulty. In it, the visitor will come into contact with an incomparably rich cultural character, which Xanthi has highlighted over the years and has been indelibly imprinted on its urban fabric. There are several surviving points that remind and can reconstruct the so-called Belle Époque period (1871-1914), during which the city experienced great economic and artistic flourishing.

The frescoes with Bavarian or German landscapes in the Kougioumtzoglou Mansion and the ceiling paintings with decorative and floral motifs in the Daniel Mansion or the Megha Kin cinema and the "Apollo" theater, in which the French actress Sarah Bernhardt is rumored to have played in some performances, give a taste of the arts of painting and theater, as they were expressed at that time.

On the other hand, dozens of places and buildings function today as expressions of the city's folklore, where artistic events and events of small and large scale take place. Starting from the Daniel Mansion and ending at the Adamides House, near Mitropoleos Square, the visitor will have the opportunity to get to know the city through buildings that functioned and function as seats of cultural associations, groups, writers and artists who have been and are active in the city of Xanthi.

Apart from the established Old Town Festivals (late August-early September), some of these spaces are functional throughout the year. They function either as visitable exhibition spaces, such as the Folklore and Historical Museum of F.E.X., the House of Shadow and the Municipal Art Gallery, or as venues for events, concerts, etc., such as the House of Culture of F.E.X.

74. House of Kigitzis – Headquarters of the Cultural Association "Frogs"

Brief documentation:

his building was originally designed to function as a residence. It belonged to Sotirios Kigitzis and passed on to his heirs. The house in recent years has been used as the headquarters of the Cultural Association "Frogs”.
This Cultural Association is one of the most active in Xanthi. It was founded in 2008 with a strong presence both in the folklore celebrations of the old town and in the carnival parade. Since 2012 and in collaboration with the Municipality of Xanthi and the Cultural Center, they organize in the city the European Music Day whose mission is to promote live music, support young creators and promote emerging and established artists.
Today's hangout of "Frogs" is a tiled residence of simple architecture. It has a ground floor and first floor, while in front of it there is a small courtyard. This courtyard is at a lower level than the road in front of it and therefore access to it is via stairs. The building has more openings to the courtyard, but also a window to the side of the street, Pindarou Street, where it is located.
The decoration on the exterior of the building is quite simple. What is interesting is the wall of an older building that existed and is still visible in the courtyard of the building.


Category of thematic interest:  CULTURAL / FOLKLORE INTEREST


History:

This building was originally designed to function as a residence. It belonged to Sotirios Kigitzis and after his death in the early 20th century it passed onto the property of his daughter Angeliki. In 1969 the building was bequeathed to her six children. The five brothers then gave their shares to their sister Athanasia as a dowry after her marriage to Efstratios Pelekanakis. The house remained the property of the couple and in recent years has been used as the headquarters of the Cultural Association "Frogs", active in Xanthi.
This Cultural Association is one of the most active in Xanthi. It was founded in 2008 with a strong presence both in the folklore celebrations of the old town and in the carnival parade. Since 2012 and in collaboration with the Municipality of Xanthi and the Cultural Center, they organize in the city the European Music Day whose mission is to promote live music, support young creators and promote emerging and established artists.


Elements of architecture:

The building that today is the hangout of "Frogs" is a tiled residence of simple architecture. It has a ground floor and first floor, while in front of it there is a small courtyard. This courtyard is at a lower level than the road in front of it and therefore access to it is via stairs. The building has more openings to the courtyard, but also a window to the side of the street, Pindarou Street, where it is located.


Description of other elements:

The decoration on the exterior of the building is quite simple. What is interesting is the wall of an older building that existed and is still visible in the courtyard of the building.


Purpose - Use: Residence, Cultural space


Characterization: Government Gazette 612B/30-4-1976 and Government Gazette 661/Β/17-5-1976, Government Gazette 1097/14.12-1995


Dating (period): Unknown


Year of construction: Unknown


Location of the monument: 41.14475722437683, 24.88599465561325


Bibliographic references:

•    "Xanthi the city with a thousand colors", Dimitris Mavridis (ed.), Cultural Development Center of Thrace, 2008
•    "Houses of Xanthi", Dimitris Mavridis, Municipal Development Enterprise of Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou, 2009


 Address: Pindarou 1


Visitable: No

 

Print
image
Terms Of UsePrivacy StatementCopyright 2024 by Municipality of Xanthi
Back To Top