Xanthi (, Xánthi ) is a city in the region of Western Thrace in northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi regional unit of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace.

Amphitheatrically built on the foot of Rhodope mountain chain, the city is divided by the Kosynthos River, into the west part, where the old and the modern town are located, and the east part that boasts a rich natural environment. The old part of town ("Palia Poli") is known throughout Greece for its distinctive architecture, combining many Byzantine Greek churches with neoclassical mansions of Greek merchants from the 18th and 19th centuries and Ottoman-Era mosques. Other landmarks in Xanthi include the Archaeological Museum of Abdera and the Folklore and Historical Museum. Because of the beauty that characterizes both the city and the wider region, Xanthi is often called "the Lady and Noblewoman of Thrace",

Xanthi is famous throughout Greece (especially Macedonia and Thrace) for its annual spring carnival and Скеча (Skecha) or Ксанти (Ksanti) in Bulgarian.

History

Xanthi is sometimes identified with the ancient city of Xantheia mentioned in the 1st century BC by the geographer Strabo, It began as a small village and experienced all the tumultuous periods of the history of Thrace, such as raids, disasters, ethnic conflicts, civil wars. The population of the region of Xanthi had dwindled down to almost nothing, as the region was depopulated in the 3rd century AD

Middle Ages

Known references to Xanthi (), or Xanthia (), the city's origins are obscure; it was a prosperous stronghold of the Byzantine era but latter became a colony of the Ottomans known as Eskije. Xanthi is first recorded in 879 (Bishop Georgios of Xantheia is reported as taking part in the Fourth Council of Constantinople).

From the 13th to the 14th century it was the most important city of the region. Two monasteries date from the Middle Ages: Pammegiston Taxiarchon, and Panagia Archangeliotisa,

Xanthi featured in the campaign of Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1327.

Early modern

thumb|The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.

By 1715, Xanthi, as well as Genisea, became renowned for its tobacco quality. Many foreign sightseers traveled throughout the region and described both the life and struggles of the locals. The tobacco trade throughout Europe led Xanthi into a course of prosperity. George Demetriou was active in the Xanthi area during the Greek Revolution of 1821. In March and April 1829 two earthquakes leveled the city, however, they played a decisive role in the further developments as the city's rebuilding immediately got underway. During the late period of Ottoman rule until 1912, the city was administratively located in the Sanjak of Gümülcine within the Adrianople Vilayet.

Balkan Wars

During the First Balkan War, Xanthi was captured by the Bulgarian army from the Ottomans in 8 November 1912. In the Second Balkan War the Greek army captured it in July 1913. On 4 March 1943 the Jews of Xanthi were arrested by the Bulgarians and imprisoned in a tobacco warehouse. On 18 and 19 March, they were deported to Nazi concentration camps in Poland. From a community of 550 people, only six Jews survived the Holocaust. The synagogue of Xanthi built in 1926 at the corner of Hatzistavrou and Anatolikis Thrakis streets, was used by Christian Associations and later abandoned. It was sold and demolished in 1995. The city was liberated following the 9 September coup d'etat in Bulgaria when partisans of the Greek People's Liberation Army entered the city and took over control without a fight. However, the Bulgarian army remained in the region until the end of October 1944 and it withdrew under pressure from the Allies.

Today

thumb|The Cathedral of Saint Sophia.

Nowadays Xanthi is a modern city, rich in history, traditions and customs, and with many attractions for the visitors (including the surrounding areas). Xanthi is known as the city of a thousand colours, and like Komotini (Gümülcine) and Didymoteicho (Dimetoka) has a large population of Turkish-speaking Muslims. The Muslim population of East Macedonia and Thrace dates to the Ottoman period, and unlike the Ottoman Muslims and Greek Muslims of Greek Macedonia and Crete was exempted from the 1922–23 Greek-Turkish population exchange following the Treaty of Lausanne. In 1972 the Greek authorities planned to demolish the landmark of the city, the clock tower, built by Pomak Hadji Emin Aga in 1870. This decision resulted in protests by the local Muslims and the plans were cancelled.

Transport

Road Transport

A few kilometers outside Xanthi, the Egnatia Motorway crosses Xanthi with Macedonia, Epirus and the rest of Thrace. The Xanthi Bus Station runs daily services to several cities throughout Greece. Xanthi is 206 km from Thessaloniki, 704 km from Athens, 397 km from Istanbul and 236 km from Edirne. On 15 January 2010, the Agios Konstantinos border crossing point between Greece and Bulgaria was inaugurated, 51 km from Xanthi, linking the nearby village of Thermes with the town of Zlatograd. A link road between the A2 motorway and the Bulgarian town of Rudozem is to be opened on 1 January 2025 via the Aegean Pass.

Rail transport

Outside Xanthi is the Xanthi railway station on the Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli line, with daily services to Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis.

Air Transport

Xanthi does not have an airport. It is mainly served by Kavala Airport, 42 km away, and secondarily by Alexandroupolis Airport, 112 km away.

Municipality

The municipality Xanthi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 2 former municipalities, that became municipal units:

  • Stavroupoli
  • Xanthi

The municipality has an area of 495.118&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 153.116&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

Communities

The municipal unit Xanthi is subdivided into the communities Evmoiro, Kimmeria and Xanthi. These communities contain the following settlements:

  • Evmoiro
  • Kallithea
  • Lamprino
  • Lefki
  • Nea Morsini
  • Palaia Morsini
  • Petrochori
  • Kimmeria
  • Gialisteri
  • Livadi
  • Pelekito
  • The abandoned villages Alikochori, Anthiro, Askyra, Eranos, Ketiki, Porta, Prioni and Ydrochori
  • Xanthi

Economy

Traditionally, the tobacco business, commerce, and farming have been the primary occupation of the residents of the area. During the last decades, tourism has also increased, especially during the period of the "Old Town Festival".

Population

{| class="wikitable"

! Year

! Population

|-

| 1940 || 31,015

|-

| 1951 || 27,283

|-

| 1961 || 27,802

|-

| 1971 || 27,040

|-

| 1981 || 33,897

|-

| 1991 || 38,808

|-

| 2001 || 46,464

|-

| 2011 || 56,151

|-

| 2021 || 58,760

|}

Education

Xanthi hosts the School of Engineering of the Democritus University of Thrace since 1974. It consists of the following departments:

  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Department of Civil Engineering
  • Department of Environmental Engineering
  • Department of Architectural Engineering
  • Department of Production Management Engineering

Cultural events

Carnival and old town's festivals

The city has a rich history, tradition, and customs and it is the cultural center in the area. It is also considered a multi-cultural city and it has been characterized as "the city of the thousand colours". Xanthi's Carnival is very popular (every February) and is one of the most popular in Greece, while the "old town festival" (early September) is equally famous. Furthermore, the bazaar of Xanthi is famous and takes place at Emboriou Square every Saturday. In addition, the Manos Hatzidakis' festival attracts worldwide interest.thumb|223x223px|The entrance of the Folklore and Historical Museum

Museums

  • Folklore and Historical Museum of Xanthi
  • Εcclesiastical Museum Metropolis of Xanthi
  • Municipal Gallery of Xanthi
  • Museum of Natural History
  • Foundation of Thracian Art and Tradition
  • Museum of the History of the Greek Costume
  • Manos Hadjidakis House

Sports

thumb|160x160px|[[Xanthi FC Arena]]

  • Xanthi FC, plays in the Super League Greece 2
  • Xanthi BC, played in the Greek A2 League
  • Aspida Xanthi, football (one appearance in the First League) and basketball
  • Orfeas Xanthi FC, football
  • Orion Xanthi, basketball

Famous people from Xanthi

  • Manos Hadjidakis (1925–1994): Major Greek composer. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Song for his song Never on Sunday from the film of the same name.
  • Şerif Gören: Turkish film director. Winner of 1982 Palme d'Or in Cannes Film Festival
  • Yanaki Paskalev (1863–1933): Bulgarian revolutionary, member of IMORO
  • Archbishop Christodoulos (1939–2008): former Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church
  • Vasilis Torosidis: football player for Olympiacos F.C. and the Greece national football team
  • Lambros Papantoniou (Mandra, Xanthi 1945-Washington, USA 2009): journalist, political analyst.
  • Zafeiris Melas, contemporary Greek laïko singer.
  • Çiğdem Asafoğlu, The Party of Friendship, Equality and Peace General President
  • Apostolos Roumoglou, basketball player for the UConn Huskies.
  • Nana Aidona, governor of Central Macedonia since 2024.

International relations

Xanthi is twinned with:

  • Smolyan, Bulgaria
  • Novi Beograd, Serbia
  • Gifhorn, Lower Saxony, Germany
  • Biga, Turkey (since 2000)
  • Bursa, Turkey
  • Adra, Spain

<gallery class="center">

File:XANTHI-NESTOS RIVER - panoramio (1).jpg|Nestos river outside the city

File:Metropolis in Xanthi.jpg|Greek Orthodox Metropolis

File:Kapnapothiki p NEW montarismeni.jpg|Old tobacco warehouses, today a restored museum

File:ΠΑΛΙΑ ΠΟΛΗ ΞΑΝΘΗ.jpg|Old mansions

File:Old town, Ksanthi.jpg|Old town street

File:Xanti clock tower.jpg|Xanthi clock tower

File:National Bank of Greece building, Xanthi.jpg|National Bank of Greece building

File:Xanthi2.jpg|Old town

File:Παλιό δημαρχείο Ξάνθης.jpg|The old city hall in the old town of Xanthi

File:Μνημειο Πεσωντων - panoramio.jpg|War memorial

File:20130421 Ottoman Bridge 4km Xanthi Stavroupolh Thrace Greece.jpg|Ottoman bridge Xanthi-Stavroupoli

File:Xanthi, Chapel of St.George & archangel Michael.jpg|Chapel of St. George and Archangel Michael

</gallery>

See also

  • Xanthi (regional unit)
  • Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
  • Thrace
  • Western Thrace
  • Xanthi Carnival

Notes

References

Further reading

  • Messinas, E. (2022). The Synagogues of Greece: A Study of Synagogues in Macedonia and Thrace: With Architectural Drawings of all Synagogues of Greece. Seattle: KDP, pp.&nbsp;133–144 and 197-199. .
  • Μεσσίνας, Η. (2022). H Συναγωγή, Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Ινφογνώμων, pp.&nbsp;19–36.
  • Μεσσίνας, Η. (1999). Oι Συναγωγές στην Ελλάδα, η αρχιτεκτονική τους και η σχέση τους με τον ιστό της πόλης και την εβραϊκή συνοικία: Συγκριτική μελέτη της ιστορίας και αρχιτεκτονικής των συναγωγών της Βορείου Ελλάδος, η θέση τους στην εβραϊκή συνοικία και η παρουσία τους στον πολεοδομικό ιστό από τον 15ο στον 20ο αιώνα. Διδακτορική διατριβή στο Τμήμα Αρχιτεκτόνων Μηχανικών Τομέα Πολεοδομίας και Χωροταξίας του ΕΜΠ, pp.&nbsp;239–254.
  • The old town of Xanthi – 3D Reconstruction
  • Democritus University of Thrace
  • Municipality of Xanthi
  • Thrace the land of Orpheus – Democritus University of Thrace
  • Cultural and Educational Technology Institute
  • Xanthi Festival 2024