Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
area between the bazaar and the campus, where bars, cinemas and bistros are busy
in term time.
The main south-north thoroughfare is 28-Oktovríou, lined with fast-food outlets and
sundry shops. One end is marked by the Kendrikí Platía, recognizable by its
distinguished clocktower. Try, if you can, to visit on Saturday, the day of Xánthi's
street
fair
- a huge affair, attended equally by Greeks, Pomaks and ethnic Turks, held in an
open space near the fire station on the eastern side of the town.
The old town
The narrow cobbled streets of the
old town
are home to a number of very fine mansions
- some restored, some derelict - with colourful exteriors, bay windows and wrought-
iron balconies; most date from the mid-nineteenth century when Xánthi's tobacco
merchants made their fortunes.
Further up, the roads become increasingly narrow and steep, and the Turkish presence
(about fifteen percent of the total urban population) is more noticeable: most of the
women have their heads covered, and the more religious ones wear full-length cloaks.
Churches and mosques hide behind whitewashed houses with tiled roofs and orange-
brown tobacco leaves are strung along drying frames. Numerous houses, no matter
how modest, sport a dish for tuning in to Turkish satellite television.
The folk museum
Odhós Antíka 7 • Tues-Sun 9am-2.30pm • €2
Two adjacent mansions at the bottom of the hill up into the right-bank quarter of
the old town, originally built for two tobacco magnate brothers, have been turned
into an excellent
folk museum
. Worth seeing for the imposing exterior alone, some
years ago the interior was lovingly restored with painted wooden panels, decorated
plaster and floral designs on the walls and ceilings. The interesting displays include
Thracian clothes and jewellery, numerous household objects and historical displays
on the tobacco industry and society in general; entry includes an enthusiastic
guided tour if requested.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
4
XÁNTHI
By bus
The KTEL station (
T
25410 22684,
W
ktelxanthis
.gr) is at Dhimokrítou 6, about 300m south of the main
square. If heading to Alexandhroúpoli it is better to travel
by train, as you will have to change bus in Komotiní.
Destinations
Alexandhroúpoli (hourly; 2hr); Kavála (half-
hourly;
By train
The train station lies just off the Kavála road, 2km
south of the centre.
Destinations
Alexandhroúpoli (2 daily; 2hr); Thessaloníki
(2 daily; 4hr).
By car
Xánthi's pay-and-display parking scheme is pretty
comprehensive, with fees payable in the centre Mon-Sat
8.30am-8.30pm.
1hr);
Komotiní
(every
45min-1hr;
1hr);
Thessaloníki (6-7 daily; 3hr 30min).
ACCOMMODATION
Town-centre
hotel choices are limited and rather overpriced, and disappointingly there's no official accommodation in the
atmospheric old town.
Elisso
Vasilíssis Sofías 9
T
25410 84400,
W
hotelelisso
.gr.
Conveniently placed for the university, the town's newest
and smartest hotel contains slick, well-furnis
hed r
ooms with
state-of-the-art facilities. Breakfast included.
€65
Ì
Orfeas
W
orfeashotel.gr.
A short stroll south of Kendrikí Platía,
the spacious, bright, en-suite rooms here constitute the
best value in town. The atmosphere is also w
arme
r than
the average business hotel. Breakfast included.
€55
Mihaïl Karaolí 40
T
25410 20121,
EATING
Ì
Erkolos
Bahtzetzí 18A, off
Mihaïl Karaolí
T
25410
67735.
Here you can wash down inexpensive dishes, such
as tenderly fried liver for €6 and copious dips, with lashings
of
tsípouro
, often to the tune of traditional music.
Daily
8pm-late.
Erodhios
Ayíou Athanasíou 2
T
25410 66379.
Quality
