Thessaloniki Villa Mordoch

Location: Vasilissis Olgas Avenue

Villa Mordoch is a historic villa located on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue. Designed by the famed Greek architect Xenophon Paionidis, this wonderful mansion dates back to 1905 and was originally the home of Ottoman divisional commander, Seifoulah Pasha. It would subsequently become the property of the wealthy Jewish Mordoch family, to which it owes its name.

The building would change many owners throughout the decades, even housing the services of the Social Insurance Institute for about 20 years, before being abandoned in 1972. In 1986, it would host the Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki until its transfer to Casa Bianca. Today, the building belongs to the Municipality of Thessaloniki.

The design of Villa Mordoch is characteristic of the unique architecture that defined the towers of Vasilissis Olgas Avenue. It is a tile-covered edifice that includes two stories, an elevated basement, and an attic. The harmonious blend of neoclassical, renaissance, baroque, and art-nouveau elements as well as the onion-shaped dome on the southwest corner is stunning. Inside, the villa is adorned with paintings and murals dated to 1905, which were crucial in determining the year of its construction.