Grape Harvesting & Wine Production

“Learn a craft and set it aside; if you go hungry, take it up again,” says this proverb, which carries the wisdom of folk tradition. It encourages us to learn a craft, develop skills and acquire a resource for life, even if we do not need it immediately. If things do not turn out as planned at some point, a craft may provide a solution and help us out of a difficult situation. The residents of the villages along the “Heartland of Legends” route were mainly farmers or shepherds, but they also knew a craft. They had to be creative and versatile in order to supplement their income during difficult times. A craft was always useful!

Men and women learned to make practical and beautiful objects. Crafts such as basket weaving, icon painting, gold and silversmithing, woodcarving, ceramics and pottery, mosaics, embroidery, winemaking, the production of the renowned Commandaria and many others provided rural residents with an additional income. All these crafts are now part of Cyprus's Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism has developed a scheme that gives visitors and locals the opportunity to take part in hands-on workshops. There, they will have the chance to discover the traditional crafts of the Cypriot countryside up close or even learn modern forms of handicraft where contemporary and traditional styles are harmoniously combined.

Handicraft and wine gastronomy workshops are held in many villages along the “Heartland of Legends” route. Feel the clay slip between your fingers as you create clay objects, learn how to use a chisel to carve your own wooden creation, take needle and thread to make Lefkara embroidery, sit at a loom to create Fyti textiles and, finally, experience the joy of creating with your own hands. Discover new experiences along the “Heartland of Legends” route.

ALL WORKSHOPS ARE FREE

Discover all available hands-on workshops, which take place from May to November 2026 and are open to visitors on Wednesdays, weekends and public holidays. Booking is required to participate, so please contact the relevant organizer directly in advance. Workshops are also held in the Christmas villages during the festive period.

Make the most of your visit to all these villages. Visit local attractions, Byzantine churches and rural museums, walk along nature study trails, sit at the coffee shop and have a coffee with the locals, and feel the pulse of tradition.

The craftspeople of “Heartland of Legends” are waiting to share authentic traditional flavours, forgotten customs and activities that keep the soul of our land alive. Discover new experiences and enrich your holiday with authentic Cypriot tradition and culture.

• Please note that workshop organizers apply all health measures to protect public health.
• The Deputy Ministry of Tourism invites all interested parties to contact the organizers directly for any further information regarding the workshops.