15. Villa Mehmet Kapandji

This mansion was built between 1893 and1895 by the architect Pietro Arrigoni for the brothers Ahmet and Yusuf Kapandji. Ahmet Kapandji was a Dönmeh banker and merchant who in 1908 was elected mayor of Thessaloniki. The villa is today known as Villa Mehmet Kapandji since after the exchange of population in 1923, the majority of the ownership passed to the Greek state, while Ahmet’s son, Mehmet would own 35 per cent. In 1912, the villa became the residence of the Greek prince Nikolaos, while during WWII it was transformed into a bakery and a residence for the Nazis. After the liberation in 1945, it hosted the NATO headquarters, and today houses the National Bank of Greece Cultural Institution. The Neo-Moorish architectural elements combined with Art Nouveau and influences play testament to the special interest of the Dönmehs to combine the Western and Ottoman traditions.

That’s all we’ve got time for today! We really hope that this tour has given you a new insight and appreciation into the lesser-known Jewish heritage of the great city of Thessaloniki. Thank you for choosing Clio Muse Tours as your guide today. We hope you’ll hear from us again!