Bensousan Han
Bensousan Han was an inn of the Ottoman period.
Modern and Contemporary era (1912 - )
2012 Started to operate as a cultural multispace.
2022 Its operation as a multispace stopped.
Ottoman era (1453- 1912)
1894 Beginning of the building's construction.
1907 Completion.
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
Bensousan Han (Inn) is one of the buildings that survived the fire of 1917. Its most characteristic architectural element is the octagonal space with a glass dome. The facade of the building is divided into two zones. The ground floor openings are defined by 4 ribbed pillars and the ground floor is separated from the first floor by a cornice, which projects further at the point of the pillars. The floor’s false parapets with capitals of Corinthian order are also developed on the same projecting points. Today, some of the pillars have been covered and the metal sunshade has been removed.
What I can't see
According to historical sources, its foundations had been laid since 1810, but it was built as an inn many decades later. Originally, it was the property of a former glebe of the Great Mosque in Mecca. When built as an inn, it was owned by the Jewish merchant Samuel Bensousan, from whom the building took its name. During its long history, there have been periods of abandonment and has been used in various ways. In recent years, it operated as a cultural multi-space, where many exhibitions, performances and other cultural events took place.
Info
- Address: 6 Edessis St.
Bibliography
Open House Thessaloniki, (2018), Μπενσουσάν Χαν, [Bensousan Khan] OHTH
Vassilarou Ε., (2018), Κτίρια που αγαπώ σε εικόνες: Μπενσουσάν Χαν, [Buildings I love in pictures: Bensousan Hahn], in Parallaxi,
https://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki-news/ktiria-pou-agapo-se-eikones-mpensousan-chan
Last visit 6/6/2024
