Xanthi
Xanthi
Ξάνθη | |
---|---|
UTC+3 (EEST) | |
Postal code | 67100, 67131, 67132, 67132 |
Area code(s) | 2541 |
Vehicle registration | AH |
Website | www.cityofxanthi.gr |
Xanthi
Amphitheatrically built on the foot of
Xanthi is famous throughout Greece (especially Macedonia and Thrace) for its annual spring carnival[2] (Greek: καρναβάλι) which has a significant role in the city's economy. Over 40 cultural associations from around Greece participate in the carnival program. The festivities which take place during the period include concerts, theatre plays, music and dance nights, exhibitions, a cycling event, games on the streets, and re-enactments of old customs.[2]
Name
There are two theories regarding the origin of its name: it was either named after a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, or after Xanthi, one of the Amazons that ruled the region, according to legend.
Xanthi is known as İskeçe in Turkish[3] and Скеча (Skecha) or Ксанти (Ksanti) in Bulgarian.[4]
History
Xanthi is sometimes identified with the ancient city of Xantheia mentioned in the 1st century BC by the geographer
Middle Ages
Known references to Xanthi (Ξάνθη), or Xanthia (Ξάνθεια), 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.[7] Xanthi is first recorded in 879 (Bishop Georgios of Xantheia is reported as taking part in the Fourth Council of Constantinople[8][9]). From the 13th to the 14th century it was the most important city of the region. Three monasteries date from the Middle Ages: Pammegiston, Taxiarchon, and Panagia Archangeliotisa,[8] although written records indicate several others now lost.[10] Xanthi featured in the campaign of Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1327.
Early modern
By 1715, Xanthi, as well as
Balkan Wars
During the
World War II
On 8 April 1941 the 164th Infantry Division captured Xanthi following the
Today
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
Transport
Road Transport
A few kilometers outside Xanthi, the Egnatia Motorway crosses Xanthi with
Rail transport
Outside Xanthi is the
Air Transport
Xanthi does not have an airport. It is mainly served by
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:[17]
- Stavroupoli
- Xanthi
The municipality has an area of 495.118 km2, the municipal unit 153.116 km2.[18]
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
Year[19] | 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
School of Engineering
- 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.
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
- Xanthi FC, plays in the Super League Greece 2
- 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 Sundayfrom 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 PeaceGeneral President
- Apostolos Roumoglou, basketball player for the UConn Huskies.
International relations
Xanthi is
- Smolyan, Bulgaria
- Novi Beograd, Serbia
- Gifhorn, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Biga, Turkey (since 2000)[20]
- Bursa, Turkey
- Adra, Spain
Gallery
-
Nestos river outside the city
-
Greek Orthodox Metropolis
-
Old tobacco warehouses, today a restored museum
-
Old mansions
-
Old town street[21]
-
National Bank of Greece building
-
Old town
-
War memorial
-
Ottoman bridge Xanthi-Stavroupoli
-
Chapel of St. George and Archangel Michael
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Visit Greece | Ξάνθη". visitgreece.gr. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ^ Heath W. Lowry, The Shaping of the Ottoman Balkans, 1350-1550: The Conquest, Settlement & Infrastructural Development of Northern Greece, Bahçeşehir University Publications, 2008, ISBN 9756437782, р. 213.
- ^ Радослав Попов, Балканската политика на България 1894-1898, Българска академия на науките, стр 164.
- ^ a b c Samsaris, D. C. (2005). Ιστορική γεωγραφία της Δυτικής Θράκης κατά τη ρωμαϊκή αρχαιότητα [Historical Geography of Western Thrace during the Roman Antiquity] (in Greek). Thessaloniki. pp. 86–88.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Xanthi – History Archived 27 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine. euro travelling.net. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ Xánthi, at Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- ^ a b About Xanthi.
- ^ "Θρακικός Ηλεκτρονικός Θησαυρός - Ιστορία".
- ^ a b c History of Xanthi Archived 23 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Νίκος Λιανός, αρχιτέκτων, Επ. Καθηγητής ΤΑΜ-∆ΠΘ. Μορφολογικά χαρακτηριστικά των κτηρίων της παλιάς πόλης της Ξάνθης. Ιστοσελίδα Δημοκρίτειου Πανεπιστήμιου Θράκης, σσ. 1. Ανακτήθηκε στις 18 July 2011.
- ^ Exarchou, Thomas P. (2002). Ξάνθη 1941–1944. Xanthi: Όμηροι Βουλγαρίας.
- ^ "Ξάνθη".
- ISBN 979-8-8069-0288-8
- ISBN 978-0230294653.
- ^ Mangalyakova, Tanya (2011). Нашите в Гърция. Sofia. p. 20.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
- ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
- ^ "Digital Library EL.STAT". Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ "Twinnings" (PDF). Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ^ Ξάνθη: Μία πόλη, χίλια χρώματα.
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. 133-144 and 197-199. ISBN 979-8-8069-0288-8.
- Μεσσίνας, Η. (2022). H Συναγωγή, Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Ινφογνώμων, pp. 19-36. ISBN 978-618-5590-21-5
- 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. 239-254.
External links
- 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