The property, with a total area of approximately 16,500 square meters and owned by the Italian government, is located at the intersection of Vasilissis Olgas and Fleming streets. According to reports, the purchase price amounted to €5 million.
The German chain, which has not announced its plans for the property, does not currently have a store in the area.
The history of the building dates back to the 19th century
The iconic complex of the Italian Institute, construction of which began in the 19th century, consists of the tobacco warehouse of the Italian Tobacco Monopoly, the supplementary apartment building (built in 1958), and the Italian Institute building (built in 1933). The site also preserves the railings of Villa Ida, which was originally built on the site of the tobacco warehouse in 1886.
Villa Ida was among the first works of the Italian architect Vitaliano Poselli and was named after the wife of Levi Modiano, its first owner. In 1911, it was purchased by Ulusi Bey, a former mayor, who sold it in 1921 to the Italian government. In 1933, the Italian School ‘Umberto Primo’ was built at the rear of the plot, serving as a school for the Italian community of Thessaloniki until 1942, when it was converted into an Italian hospital.
In 1958, Villa Ida was demolished to make way for the Italian Tobacco Monopoly warehouse and the apartment building. The tobacco warehouse began operations in 1962 and closed in 1968. The supplementary apartment building, which remained in use until 2006, was initially designed to house employees of the tobacco warehouse and was later used by the teachers of the Italian Institute.
Although the three buildings have not been officially designated as protected, they possess unique historical value connected to the social, political, and economic past of Thessaloniki.
