Straw Chair Makers

“Learn a trade and set it aside, and if you go hungry, take it up again,” says this proverb, carrying the wisdom of folk tradition. It encourages us to learn a trade, develop skills, and acquire a useful asset in life even if we do not need it immediately. If things do not go as planned at some point, a trade may provide the 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 trade. They had to be creative and multi-talented to supplement their income in difficult times. A trade was always useful!

Men and women learned to make useful and beautiful objects. Crafts such as basket weaving, icon painting, silversmithing and goldsmithing, woodcarving, ceramics and pottery, mosaics, embroidery, winemaking, the production of the famous 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 programme giving visitors and locals the opportunity to take part in hands-on workshops. There, they will have the chance to experience the traditional crafts of the Cypriot countryside first-hand, or even learn contemporary forms of handicraft where modern and traditional elements blend harmoniously.

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 make clay objects, learn how to use a chisel to carve your own wooden piece, take needle and thread to create Lefkara embroidery, sit at a loom to make Fyti textiles, and finally feel 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, held from May to November 2026 and 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 the Christmas villages during the festive season.

Make the most of your visit to all these villages. Visit local attractions, Byzantine churches, and rural museums, walk along nature trails, sit at the coffee shop and enjoy 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 organisers directly for any further information about the workshops.