Library of Ano Poli
The Library of Ano Poli was the residence of the Ottoman military commander of Thessaloniki Hifzi Bey.
Modern and Contemporary era (1912 - )
1959 Modifications that altered its original physiognomy (e.g. concrete staircase).
1977 Listed as a piece of art.
1986 It housed schools until then.
Ottoman era (1453- 1912)
1897 Beginning of construction.
1905 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
The two-storey residence of the Ottoman period has two curved sections in the central facade, which break its continuity, emphasize symmetry, and their windows are arched, unlike the rest. It is a Macedonian mansion with western influences, as it has several neoclassical elements, such as capitals and parapets. The two floors “rest” on corbels (projections supports) and the sachnisia (extensions of the interior spaces) of the side facades are also supported by corbels. The building has two central entrances with arched skylights.
What I can't see
It was the residence of the Ottoman military commander of Thessaloniki Hifzi Bey. It is considered one of the best houses of Balkan architecture in the city. This architecture differs from the traditional Turkish one, because it is more austere. It housed refugees from Asia Minor and then housed schools for many years. Today, it has been converted into the municipality’s regional library which consists of 12,000 volumes. The restoration of the building as a library followed the standards of foreign libraries and is equipped with the latest technology.
Info
- Address: 7 Krispou St.
- Postal Code : 54634
- Phone: +30 231 021 9329
Bibliography
Ζafeiris Ch., (2014), Θεσσαλονίκη, η παρουσία των απόντων, η κληρονομιά Ρωμαίων, Μουσουλμάνων, Εβραίων, Ντονμέδων, Φράγκων, Αρμενίων και Σλάβων, [Thessaloniki, the presense of the absent, the heritage of Romans, Muslims, Jews, Doenme, Franks, Armenians and Slavs], Thessaloniki: Epikentro
Collective Work, (1985-6), Νεώτερα Μνημεία της Θεσσαλονίκης [Modern Monuments of Thessaloniki], Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Northern Greece
Open House Thessaloniki, (2017), Βιβλιοθήκη στην Άνω Πόλη, [Library in Ano Poli], ΟΗΤΗ
Open House Thessaloniki, (2019), Βιβλιοθήκη στην Άνω Πόλη, [Library in Ano Poli], ΟΗΤΗ
