Making katimeri

“Learn a trade and set it aside, and 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 gain a useful asset in life even if we do not need it immediately. If things do not go 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 multi-talented to supplement their income in difficult times. A craft was always useful!

Men and women learned to make objects that were useful and beautiful. Crafts such as basket weaving, icon painting, goldsmithing 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 opportunity to discover the traditional crafts of the Cypriot countryside up close 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 slip between your fingers as you create clay objects, learn how to use a chisel to carve your own woodwork, take needle and thread to create Lefkara embroidery, sit at a loom to make 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 organiser directly in advance. Workshops also take place 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 traditional 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 organisers directly for any further information about the workshops.