On the first day of your arrival, start with a visit to the Old Town of Xanthi. Built on the northern side of the town, at the foothills of the Rodopi mountain range, it comprises neo-classical buildings influenced by the architectural forms of Western Macedonia and Epirus, and by the flair of Central Europe. Richly adorned, both internally and externally, with an obvious baroque atmosphere, they are the homes of the old tobacco merchants of Xanthi, that have been restored and bear witness to the times when the tobacco trade flourished in Xanthi, and there were four consulates operating here (Italian, Austro-Hungarian, French and Greek).

Plain cobbled streets, alleys with cut-off corners, buildings of different styles and forms, all comprise the setting for the romantic fairy tale of the Old Town, which hides yet another surprise around every corner. Just a few steps from Mitropoleos square, there are two connected buildings in the Old Town that arouse the interest of visitors; the one on the northern side is the Folk Art Museum, which houses a variety of notable collections.

Renowned for its oriental character, the bazaar set up in the centre of Xanthi each Saturday is the largest open-air market in northern Greece, filled with colours, sounds and life.
 

A few words about the monasteries in Xanthi Prefecture

The 4 monasteries of Xanthi, i.e. Panagia Archaggeliotissa, Panagia Kalamou, Moni Taxiarchon and Agios Nikolaos, form a cross, which, according to tradition, protects the town from disasters, earthquakes etc. There is also an Ecclesiastical Museum at the monastery of Panagia Archaggeliotissa, with heirlooms from all parishes of the Municipality of Xanthi, such as vestments and liturgical vessels. Also worth visiting is the more modern monastery of Agia Eirini (St Irene), and the churches of the Old Town, dating back to 1834.