It is hard to understand today how this particular  settlement was the capital of Xanthi during the Ottoman Empire. It used to be part of the growing trade of tobacco. It was called Yeni Jae (“new city” in Turkish) and became the capital of the region when Xanthi was destroyed by an earthquake in 1829. Nowadays the settlement of Genisea is a mosaic of cultures and civilizations hosting Christians, Muslims, Russians, and Gypsies alike. Walking across from the town hall, one may find numerous old buildings – famous for their glorious past.