The cultural and folklore character in Xanthi today
The city of Xanthi has highlighted over the years an incomparably rich cultural character, which has been indelibly imprinted on its urban fabric. Dozens of places and buildings in old Xanthi function as expressions of the culture and folklore of the city, where artistic events and events of small and large scale take place.

On this route, about 2 km, lasting about 60 minutes and of moderate difficulty, the visitor will have the opportunity to tour almost the entire area of Old Xanthi and visit buildings and places of cultural and artistic activities, as well as places where folklore customs regarding religious ceremonies continue. This route mainly concerns the period of the Old Town Festivals, which take place every year since 1991 in late August-early September.

Starting from the Daniel Mansion, the famous house of Manos Hadjidakis, and ending at the Chapel of Agioi Theodoroi, the visitor will have the opportunity to get to know places that have operated and still operate throughout the year as seats of cultural associations, groups, writers and artists active in the city of Xanthi.

Apart from the established Old Town Festivals, these spaces are functional throughout the year, either as visitable exhibition spaces, such as the Folklore Museum, the House of Shadow and the Municipal Art Gallery, or as venues for events, concerts, etc., such as the F.E.X. House of Culture.

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

 

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