Crochet

This proverb, which carries the wisdom of folk tradition, says: “Learn a craft and set it aside, and if you go hungry, take it up again.” It encourages us to learn a craft, develop skills and acquire a useful asset in life, even if we do not need it immediately. If things do not work out as we had 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 multitalented in order to supplement their income during difficult times. A craft was always useful!

Men and women learned to make objects that were both practical and beautiful. Crafts such as basket weaving, icon painting, goldsmithing and silversmithing, woodcarving, ceramics and pottery, mosaic-making, embroidery, winemaking, the production of the renowned Commandaria wine and many others provided rural residents with additional income. All these crafts are now part of Cyprus' 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 become familiar with the traditional crafts of the Cypriot countryside or even learn contemporary forms of handicraft where modernity is harmoniously combined with tradition.

Handicraft and wine and gastronomy workshops are held in many villages along the “Heartland of Legends” route. Feel the clay slide between your fingers as you create clay objects, learn how to use a chisel to carve your own woodwork, take a needle and thread to create Lefkara embroidery, sit at a loom to make Fyti textiles and, ultimately, 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 organiser directly in advance. Workshops are also held in 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 in 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 organisers implement all health measures to protect public health.
• The Deputy Ministry of Tourism invites all interested parties to contact the organisers directly for any further information about the workshops.