There are so many places to visit in Greece. One of them is Xanthi or popularly called the Old town of Xanthi. A beautiful city that boasts of a heavenly environment filled with exquisite Greek architecture.
Xanthi is popularly called the city of a thousand colors. It has a population of roughly around 70,000. The city enjoys moderate weather, especially during the summer where temperatures become pleasant. If you plan to visit Xanthi, you can visit any time of the year.
Here are the top 10 things to do when you visit Xanthi.
10. Hadjidakis House
Hadjidakis House is the old house dedicated to the well-known composer Manos Hadjidakis. Born in Xanthi, Hadjidakis was a famous Greek music theorist. It is an ideal place to visit if you are a fan of Greek music or contemporary music.
Originally the manor belonged to his family, but the authorities renovated the manor as a cultural center and museum in honor of him. This manor was built in 1895 and is classified as a historical landmark of Xanthi.
It has a permanent exhibition displaying the life and works of Hadjidakis. In addition, the manor now hosts a venue for important events and conferences that promote art, artistic workshops, and seminars.
9. The Path of Life
The Path of Life is a pleasant walk as you trail along the Kosynthos River. The trail is only a few minutes away from the city center. There is also a small chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael where the locals come to pray.
Visiting this place will give you a scenic view of the lush trees surrounding the area and greenery everywhere. It is rightly called the Path of Life because you can feel life flowing around you. It is an easy trail for both adults and children to follow. It is open to the public on all days of the week.
8. Xanthi’s Old Town Festival
Xanthi’s Old Town Festival is by far the most visited festival by tourists in Xanthi. It is an annual festival held for two weeks between summer to autumn, usually in the month of September. The people uphold all kinds of traditional values, customs, and traditions. They take part in all sorts of parades with a significant theme influencing the festival every year.
The town hosts many exhibits for local photographers, artists, and theatrical performances. Families with children will love this festival since it engages to all ages. You will get to enjoy the regional cuisines, wines, and yearly production of fruits and vegetables.
7. Balkan Art Gallery (Sanat Gellerisi)
Balkan Sanat Gallerisi is a famous art gallery that both locals and tourists throng to visit. It is a unique gallery where space meets art. The gallery aims to exhibit artists both from Greece and internationally to showcase their pieces to promote innovation and ideas for cultural exchange.
The gallery hosts exhibitions whole year round from artists involved in the visual arts, experimental music, and influenced contemporary art. The main attraction of this gallery is the display of Picasso’s lost paintings, which is worth a visit. It is ideal for someone who loves art and loves exploring new kinds of experimental arts.
6. Nestos Gorge Observatory
The Nestos Gorge Observatory gives you a scenic view of the Nestos river and the surrounding Xanthi area. It will take you an hour or two of your time, but the results will be truly satisfying.
The observatory lets you enjoy the outdoors and refreshes your mind. It is an ideal spot to visit with your children. The observatory gives you the view of the scenery and grants you a continuous view of the sea, the Porto Lagos lagoon, and the Thassos island. You may need to rent a car and park it in the car park provided by the authorities before you reach the Gorge.
5. Public Paint Gallery
The Public Paint Gallery or the Municipal Art Gallery of Xanthi is located in the center of the city. This gallery is one of the best examples of combining Macedonian and Thrace elements in architecture. The unique feature of this gallery is the wooden carved ceilings that only the inhabitants of Xanthi use to decorate their houses.
The gallery is dedicated to the town’s local artist, Christos Pavlidis, who made a massive contribution to Greek art and culture. Along with his work, you can also view the art pieces exhibited by local artists. It is open to the public on all days except on Sundays.
4. Livaditis Waterfall
The Livaditis or Trachoni Waterfall is considered to be Greece’s highest waterfall. It is located in the northern part of Xanthi that borders Bulgaria and Greece. It is not a difficult place to reach since you can visit the destination from a rental car.
It is an ideal place to visit for people who love the outdoors and want to go for a hike or for trailing. Livaditis or Trachoni Waterfall is a hidden gem since most tourists do not visit the place. But, the locals love this spot. The waters are refreshing, and the entire waterfall freezes during winter.
3. The Folk and History Museum of Xanthi
The Folk and History Museum of Xanthi is located in the old town of Xanthi. The Kougioumtzog family owns this museum. Their family is influential in the tobacco business in Xanthi. The 1870’s Renaissance influence inspires the museum’s architecture.
There are three levels on the museum where the ground floor and first floor display the life led by the working class or middle class during that time. The exhibition gives you a glimpse of the agriculture and animals that the people reared during those days in the cellar.
It opens everyday to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
2. The House of Shadow
The House of Shadow is the second place to visit in Xanthi. As the name suggests, the House of Shadow displays a unique exhibition of shadows created by objects and artifacts placed strategically. This creative shadow art is supervised by its creator Triandafyllos Vaitsis. Most of the shadows on display are created by optical illusions that came from garbage and waste.
The museum opens every day for the public, but the timings may vary. The admission fee costs 2 Euros per person. It will take you half an hour to explore this small but beautiful place. You will also get first-hand experience and information from the artist.
1. Old town of Xanthi
The Old town of Xanthi is located in Xanthi’s northern part of the city. Untouched by development, it offers you a glimpse of the traditional settling of Greece during the 17th century and the periods after that. The old town of Xanthi covers an area of nearly 350 acres. It is popularly called The Little Paris of Northern Greece because of the cultural influence during that period.
You can visit the tobacco store and factories along the streets. Take a look at the colorful houses and mansions owned by once-influential tobacco merchants. You can visit the antique museum and antique shops.
