A dirt road in the center of the town

The photo presents the intersection of G. Stavros and Konitsis streets in the old town of Xanthi. In the foreground you can see the dirt road that used to be there, the various buildings and even a car! The house that was known as “La Grande Maison” dominates the background of the photo and belonged to Isaac Daniel, a rich tobacco merchant of Jewish origin. In 1935, Daniel had already died and after the mansion was rented by his heirs, the building was confiscated for unpaid inheritance taxes and was awarded to the Greek State, after an auction. Among the tenants of the 2nd floor were the parents of Manos Hadjidakis, which is why today the building is the so called “Multiplex space of Art and Thought” dedicated to this very important Greek composer, who was born in Xanthi in 1925.

Creator: Uknown (1935)
Source: Tasos Tefronidis private collection