Needle Lace (Cross Stitches)

"Learn a craft and set it aside, and if you go hungry, you'll find it," 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 at some point things do not turn out as we had planned, a craft may give us the solution and help us out of a difficult situation. The residents of the villages on the "Heartland of Legends" route were mainly farmers or shepherds, but they also knew a craft. They had to be creative and versatile to supplement their income in hard times. A craft was always useful!

Men and women learned to make objects that were both useful and beautiful. Crafts such as basket weaving, icon painting, silversmithing, wood carving, pottery and earthenware, mosaic, embroidery, winemaking, the preparation of the famous Cypriot koumandaria, and many others provided an additional income for the rural population. All these crafts are today part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Cyprus, 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 experience at close hand the traditional crafts of the Cypriot countryside, or even learn contemporary forms of craftsmanship where the modern blends harmoniously with the traditional.

Craft and wine-gastronomy workshops take place in many villages along the "Heartland of Legends" route. Feel the clay slip between your fingers to make clay objects, learn how to use a chisel to carve your own wooden piece, take a needle and thread to create Lefkara lace embroidery, sit at a loom to weave Phytkiotiko fabrics, 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 the available hands-on workshops, which run from May to November 2026 and are open to visitors on Wednesdays, weekends, and public holidays. Participation requires a reservation, so contact the organizer directly in advance. Workshops are also held in the Christmas villages during the holiday season.

Make the most of your visit to all these villages. Visit the local sights, the Byzantine churches and the rural museums, walk the nature trails, sit in the village coffee house and have a coffee with the locals, and feel the pulse of tradition.

The artisans of "Heartland of Legends" are waiting to share with you authentic traditional flavors, forgotten customs and activities that keep the soul of our place alive. Discover new experiences and enrich your holiday with authentic Cypriot tradition and culture.

• Please note that the organizers of the workshops are implementing 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.