Folklore Museum Karya. Lefkada.

The Folklore Museum in Karya is well worth a visit; an interesting, educational delight as you enter the fascinating world of traditional Greek lifestyle and culture. Directions are easy; just follow the main road to Karya and look for the Folklore Museum signposts when you reach the village centre. There is off road parking space outside the museum. Open every day 9am - 9pm. 3€ per person.

The barrel would be filled with grapes for a child to press with their feet. The wooden wheel was turned by hand attached to mill stones to grind grain.

The cast iron pot would be heated on a wood fire to make Tsipouro (alcoholic drink).

This stone wheel would be attached to the wooden saddle (samari) of a donkey. As the donkey walked around the mill stones ground the grain.

The wooden box was used to press dried tobacco leaves into bales.

Handcrafted door locks and garden tools were made locally. Most families had a wood oven for baking bread.

The museum guide passionately explains how the linen was made from flax and woven into fine linen cloth that was used to make under garments and traditional costume.

There is an embroidery design known specifically to Karya Lefkada and is often worked into table linens and now jewelry pendants. The embroidery was taught in the first school of Aunt-Marias in 1915.

Examples of this craft show incredible perfection, not being able to distinguish the front or reverse of the stitching. Women would sit by candlelight or in the outdoor shade with the linen draped over one knee.

Many elderly ladies still embroider and crochet but this craft will be a dying art if the young generation do not continue it. The traditional craft of linen weaving can still be seen on the island of Meganisi. Handcrafted items can be purchased at the museum; these are from the island of Meganisi and not to be confused with items sold in the local tourist shops that are mass produced in China.

Wool yarn was also made and woven on the looms which made a courser fabric. The coloured dyes were made from local wild flowers. The fabric was traditionally sewn into items such as bed linen and bags and decorative throws to cover the donkey/horse samari.

Linens and blankets were traditionally handed down to the younger generation as a wedding gift.

A beautiful spiral staircase leads down to another area of the museum showing the interior of a traditional family home with many items taking you back in time.

Baby cradle.

Many homes had there own loom.

School desk.

Traditional barber's dresser.

Traditional wedding headdresses.

Folklore Museum Karya.

Tel: 264 504 1590 - Mob: 694 201 0554

email: museumka@yahoo.gr

Allow yourselves time to take in the sights and smells of this wonderful museum then maybe treat yourself to a lunch at the Crazy Goat in the Karya main village square, under the canopy of the plane trees.