The City of the Thousand Colours

Xanthi is a city in northern Greece built on the foothills of the Rodopi Mountain range. It is a modern city, rich in history, traditions and customs. Xanthi is known as the city of the thousand colours. It has a delightful eastern feel to it, letting you know that Turkey is not too far away.

Xanthis scenery is very varied, with the Rodopi Mountains on its northern borders, the Papikio Mountains, lakes, rivers and the sea.

In the old town the houses are of traditional architecture, constructed out wood and stone, while most of the towns streets are made out of granite. It is famous for its deserts and dried nuts.

The Old Towns centre is Metropolis Square, around which are the citys most significant buildings. In the city exist a lot of restaurants, taverns, ouzo selling restaurants, where local tastes are served.

Athletic Club Skoda Xanthi currently competes in the Super League Greece. The club was formed in 1967. When the final stand is finally built, the new capacity will be around 9,000 seats.

The town has great restaurants, sweet shops, hotels and cafes, and few people from outside of Greece bother to stop here.

When in Xanthi, one should definitely visit the open air flea market that takes place every Saturday all year long. Fruit, vegetable, clothing and all sorts of useful things are sold in really low prices.

Byzantine castle around the old town dominates its surroundings from the top of a nearby hill to the north of the town. Picturesque monasteries lurk among the pine-wooded hills.

Each February is carried out the eminent Carnival of Xanthi, where for 15 days are presented themes so from the folk tradition.

The carnival of Xanthi is an important cultural event. It hosts a fortnight of wonderful folklore festivities; the carnival parade is packed with colourful floats. It is organised in Xanthi every year in late summer and the first days of September. The Old Town Festival is a good occasion for high lighting the importance of this preservable traditional settle men.

Xanthis folk history museum is located in a double mansion built between 1870 1880. The imposing residence, which today features all the original furnishings and is decorated throughout with paintings and ornamental flourishes, was built by the Kouyioumtzoglou clan. A family enriched by the tobacco trade during Xanthis late-19th century peak. The mansion also features various relics and texts of historical value, and occasionally hosts classes for the Open University of Greece.

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