Metropoleos District, the heart of Old Xanthi

The settlement of the Old Town took on its current form after the third decade of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 20th century, it had already the main features recognizable to visitors today, with buildings showcasing both Balkan architecture and an eclectic style inspired by Europe. At the heart of this settlement lies the Mitropoleos district, around the Metropolitan church of Timios Prodromos and the Metropolitan Mansion. This photo from 1902 captures a significant portion of the Mitropoleos district. On the middle left, one can see the then newly built metropolitan residence. The decision to construct it was made by the Demogerondia (a council of Greek community leaders under Ottoman rule) in 1892. To the right, in the background, stands the building that gave its name to the Lefkos Pyrgos (White tower) district.

Creator: Unknown (1902)
Source: D. Mavridis Archive- Old Xanthi blog