The area before the bazaar of Xanthi

In the present day, this area in Xanthi is known for hosting the city’s renowned and bustling Saturday open air bazaar. However, before 1919, the sounds that resonated here were solely those of the waters from the secondary bed of the river Xanthi, called Kosynthos. This river once flowed through this location, giving rise to the islet of Kanara. The course of the secondary bed was diverted in 1919, leading to the drying up of this section, which subsequently transformed into the bustling bazaar area we know today. In the photo, a bridge from the original secondary channel can be observed in the foreground, while in the background, there are the buildings of the Old Xanthi.

Creator: unknown (end of 19th century)
Source: Dimitris A. Mavridis private collection