NOMOS XANTHIS

XANTHI

Population (according to 2021 census): 58.760

History

Xanthi: A Crossroads of Civilizations with a Rich and Turbulent History

The History of Xanthi: The Lady of Thrace

-Xanthi, known as the “Lady of Thrace,” is a city at the crossroads of civilizations that harmoniously combines history, tradition, architecture, and natural beauty. It has a rich and turbulent past, inseparably linked to its geographical location. -The area has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. The most important ancient city in the region was Abdera (founded in 656 BC), the birthplace of the philosopher Democritus and the sophist Protagoras, which played a key role in the Hellenization of the Thracians. Xanthi itself, known as Xantheia, is mentioned by the geographer Strabo in the 1st century BC. However, the city went through periods of decline and was almost deserted in the 3rd century AD due to barbarian invasions. -With the founding of Constantinople in 330 AD, Thrace and Xanthi gained new importance, serving as the “courtyard” of the imperial capital. Xantheia was officially mentioned for the first time in 879 AD as a bishopric. From the 13th to the 14th century, it developed into the most important city in the region, functioning as a strong Byzantine fortress. Remnants of the city’s walls can still be seen in the northern part, as well as monasteries such as Panagia Archangelotissa. -Xanthi was occupied by the Ottomans around 1385 AD and renamed İskeçe. Despite this difficult period, the Christian inhabitants managed to preserve their Greek identity. -The economic and social history of Xanthi changed dramatically from the 17th century onward, with the development of the cultivation and trade of high-quality tobacco (known as “Basma” or “Yenidje”). -Two powerful earthquakes, in March and April 1829, leveled the city. The reconstruction that followed (after 1830) led to the creation of the famous Old Town. Wealthy Greek tobacco merchants built impressive neoclassical mansions, influenced by European architectural styles (Italian Renaissance, German Romanticism), giving the city the nickname “Little Paris.” During that era, Xanthi hosted consulates, banks, theaters, and schools. -During the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), Xanthi found itself at the center of conflicts, alternating between Bulgarian and Greek control. -The city was finally liberated by the Greek Army on October 4, 1919, after the end of World War I, and was officially incorporated into the Greek state. The population exchange that followed the Asia Minor Catastrophe (1922–1923) brought thousands of Greek refugees from Pontus, Asia Minor, and Eastern Thrace, strengthening both the Greek presence and the city’s cultural wealth. -Xanthi was occupied by the Germans in 1941 and handed over once again to the Bulgarians, who implemented a policy of Bulgarization. During the Occupation, the Jewish community of Xanthi was arrested and exterminated in Nazi concentration camps (1943).

Traditions

Xanthi: The Heart of Culture and Tradition in Northern Greece

From the Carnival of Traditions to the Musical Legacy of Manos Hadjidakis

-As a city deeply rooted in history and multiculturalism, Xanthi boasts a particularly rich field of tradition that extends beyond gastronomy. This tradition is vibrant and expressed through major cultural institutions, folklore, music, and its unique architectural heritage. -Xanthi has established itself as the carnival capital of Northern Greece and is renowned for two major annual events: the Xanthi Carnival and the Old Town Festival. -The Xanthi Carnival is the largest cultural event in Northern Greece during the festive period of the Greek Carnival (Apokries) and the second largest in the country after the Patras Carnival. -The event began in 1966 and is not merely a carnival parade, but a wide-ranging celebration lasting several weeks. It includes dances, musical performances, theatrical productions, and the revival of traditional customs from Thrace. -The festivities culminate with the Grand Carnival Parade and the Burning of Tzaros tradition on the banks of the Kosynthos River, a symbolic ritual representing the expulsion of evil spirits. -The Old Town Festival is held every September and is one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in Greece. The event takes place exclusively within the traditional settlement of the Old Town. The narrow alleys and restored mansions serve as the backdrop for concerts, art exhibitions, theatrical performances, and traditional dances. -More than 35 cultural associations (refugee, local, and others) participate, creating their own “steki” (gathering spots) that offer visitors a deeper insight into the local and refugee culture of Thrace. -Xanthi is also the birthplace of the great Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis (1925–1994). The house where he was born and spent his early years, located in the Old Town, has been designated a preserved historic monument. -Today, it operates as the “Manos Hadjidakis House – Center for Art and Thought”, hosting various cultural events. In his honor, the annual festival “Xanthi of Manos Hadjidakis” takes place — a series of musical and cultural activities highlighting the composer’s work and his connection to the city that inspired him, “the replica of the belle époque with authentic Turkish minarets.”

Local products

From Multicultural Confectionery (Karioka) to the Fine Cold Cuts and Dairy Products of Thrace

The Gastronomic Identity of Xanthi

-The field of traditional products in Xanthi is particularly rich and directly linked to the city’s multicultural history—especially through its confectionery and meat/dairy traditions. -Xanthi has earned the reputation of being the “sweet city” of Thrace, with its desserts and delicacies forming an integral part of its identity. -The Xanthi Karioka is the city’s signature confection, famous throughout Greece. It is a rich chocolate dessert made with walnuts, truffle, and chocolate, named after the Cariocas, the inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro. Its history dates back to around 1926, when pastry chef Giorgos Papaparaskevas created it, and the recipe has remained unchanged ever since. Many locals insist on using pure ingredients and the original traditional recipe. -The Soutzouk Loukoum is a long, sausage-shaped traditional sweet (the word soutzouk means “sausage”) made from grape must and walnuts (threaded on a string), often coated with powdered sugar, coconut, or crushed pistachios. Along with syrupy pastries such as saragli and baklava, it represents the flavorful heritage of the East. -The tradition continues with dondurma (the traditional Politiko ice cream made with salep) and freshly ground, strong Greek coffee, served in the old-style cafés of the Old Town. -The region of Xanthi also offers unique products stemming from the livestock and agricultural production of Thrace. -Excellent cheeses are produced here, the most notable being Xanthi kasseri, feta, and graviera, made in the mountain dairy farms. -The area is also famous for kavourmas (chunks of pork or buffalo meat preserved in their own fat) and pastourmas (seasoned cured beef). These cold cuts serve as the base for many traditional dishes, such as pastourmadopita (pastourmas pies) made with Xanthi kasseri. -Local small producers also make traditional pasta such as trahanas and hilopites, while agricultural production includes legumes, mushrooms, and asparagus. -In the region of Abdera, olive oil is produced, while in the Rhodope mountains, locals collect the renowned honey of Xanthi, mainly from native floral varieties.

Tourism

Xanthi: A Crossroads Destination – From the Aristocratic Old Town to the Unique Landscapes of Nestos and Abdera

From the Old Town to the Nestos Straits: A Journey through Xanthi

Η ροή του ποταμού Νέστου στην Ορεινή Ξάνθη
Το «πλωτό» μοναστήρι του Αγίου Νικολάου πάνω από τη λίμνη Βιστωνίδα

-The prefecture of Xanthi, thanks to its unique geographical position that combines mountain, river, and sea, offers visitors an exceptionally diverse experience. The destinations are divided into urban, historical, mountainous, and coastal areas. -The city of Xanthi functions as a vibrant open-air museum, with its urban and cultural core centered around the aristocratic Old Town. The settlement, one of the best-preserved in Greece, reveals the region’s economic prosperity from the 19th to the 20th century, achieved through the tobacco trade. This heritage is reflected in the imposing mansions that exhibit strong elements of neoclassicism, baroque, and local architecture. Within the Old Town, visitors can find the Folklore and Historical Museum, which highlights urban life and the tobacco heritage, as well as the Manos Hadjidakis House, a Cultural and Art Center dedicated to the great composer born in Xanthi. The experience is completed with a walk along the Kosynthos River and a visit to the famous Saturday Bazaar, a meeting point of cultures and a living example of Xanthi’s multicultural identity. -Mountainous Xanthi is a paradise for nature lovers and fans of alternative activities, as it is dominated by the Rhodope mountain range and the Nestos River. At its heart lies the Aesthetic Forest of the Nestos Straits, a unique landscape where the river forms impressive meanders, offering excellent opportunities for rafting, kayaking, and hiking along well-marked trails. Deeper into the Rhodope mountains are the authentic Pomak villages (such as Thermes), where visitors can discover distinctive architecture and the warm hospitality of the Pomaks, while nature hides surprises like the majestic Livaditis Waterfall. The Stavroupoli area serves as the gateway to the enchanting mountainous hinterland, completing a destination ideal for exploration all year round. -The southern part of Xanthi prefecture perfectly combines history with the coastal landscape, offering both archaeological and seaside tourism. The central attraction is Ancient Abdera, the renowned city of the philosophers Democritus and Protagoras, where the extensive Archaeological Site and the modern Archaeological Museum testify to the long-standing history of Thrace. At the same time, the coasts of the Thracian Sea feature wide sandy beaches such as Myrodato and Maggana, many of which have been awarded the Blue Flag. Finally, the picturesque Porto Lagos marks the southernmost point of interest, where Lake Vistonida—one of Europe’s most important wetlands—meets the sea. Here stands out the unique St. Nicholas Monastery Dependency of Vatopedi, built on two small islets within the lagoon, offering a setting of exceptional natural beauty and serenity.