The Old Town is a part of the contemporary city of Xanthi and spreads to an area of 380.000 square meters. It is located in the northern part of the city where the vast majority of the buildings date from 1829, a date when a great earthquake destroyed the previous settlements.
The architecture followed the normal patterns of the Ottoman period since the way of building houses in a city usually was arranged in neighborhoods (mahalas) and was made around a religious center, a church, a mosque, a synagogue. Christians, Muslims, and Jews were living harmoniously and created a very interesting mixture of western and eastern architecture.
Walking in the narrow streets of the old city is a great experience since the visitor can find many beautiful neighborhoods. The construction techniques, apart from religious beliefs, were directly related to materials of the local area and the ability of the technicians. Many of those traditional buildings are now folklore museums and art galleries that are open to the public. A visit to one of those buildings gives the opportunity to see the architecture from the inside.