Former Melissa Orphanage (Center for Byzantine Research of Aristotle University)
Former Melissa Orphanage (Center for Byzantine Research of Aristotle University)
An Outstanding Example of Late 19th Century Eclectic Architecture
The Former Melissa Orphanage, now housing the Center for Byzantine Research, is a significant historical and architectural landmark in Thessaloniki. Located at 36 Vasilissis Olgas Street, the building is a notable example of late 19th-century eclectic architecture.
Constructed in 1897 as a villa for Osman Ali Bey, a wealthy Turkish merchant, the building showcases a blend of Neo-Classical and Renaissance elements characteristic of the eclectic style of the era. In 1908, it was purchased by Athanas Sopov, a Bulgarian commercial attaché, and from 1909 it housed the Bulgarian Commercial Office. The building has hosted important figures, including King Ferdinand II of Bulgaria and Eleftherios Venizelos in 1916 during the Thessaloniki affair.
After the Greco-Turkish War and the subsequent population exchanges in 1922, the building was converted into an orphanage for the city's children, known as "Melissa". The orphanage operated there until 1977, when it was relocated to Panorama, Thessaloniki.
The building is representative of eclectic architecture, combining Neo-Classical and Renaissance elements. Its architectural details, such as elaborate cornices and grand entrances, reflect its rich history. The building remained unoccupied from 1977 to 1998, when Aristotle University of Thessaloniki undertook its restoration and transformed it into the Center for Byzantine Research.
Today, the building stands as one of Thessaloniki's most significant examples of architectural heritage, blending historical significance with contemporary scientific research and the study of Byzantine tradition.
