Top 10 Traditional Crafts
-
1. Weaving
Traditional hand looms are still in use, made by skilled craftsmen from cypress, walnut or mulberry wood.
-
2. Embroidery
Rethymno was a major centre for embroidery, a skill introduced to Crete in the Byzantine era.
-
3. Spinning
Older village women still spin wool into yarn using a spindle and distaff – a skill that hasn’t changed since the time of the Minoans.
-
4. Dyeing
Dyes are still made from shellfish (purple), madder root (red), walnut shells (dark brown), olive or pomegranate leaves (green), and crocus, marigold or narcissus (yellow).
-
5. Church Embroidery
Crete’s Orthodox monks and nuns embellish sumptuous church vestments with gold, silver and silk stitching.
-
6. Wood Carving
Olive, cypress and mulberry yield a hard wood loved by skilled Cretan carpenters.
-
7. Leatherwork
Everything from shepherds’ boots and mule harnesses to satchels, handbags and sheepskin garments.
-
8. Silversmithing
Silver jewellery and religious objects such as icon frames and crucifixes.
-
9. Lace
Silk kopaneli lace is made by bobbin weaving, a skill revived in Gavalochori.
-
10. Antique Weapons
The Cretan pallikar (warriorhero) loved highly decorated weapons. Authentic antique weapons are highly valued.
Advertisement
-
-
Lake Como Aug08
jasmin
-
Barcelona guide
capule
-
Amsterdam guide
bhaims
-
anna's Venice guide
annanz
-
Sydney guide
bekiba
-
HannahGray's Sydney guide
Hannah
-
-
-
Amisha Gupta's Cyprus guide
Amisha
-
sarojpatel's Rome guide
sarojp
-
Paris guide
ori
-
Rome guide
Travel
-
Crete guide
lizzie
-
-
Palace of KnossosThe Palace of Knossos is the oldest settlement yet found which belonged to the Minoan civilisation and was excavated in the early 20th century. It is the place where the fabled minotaur of Ancient... Read more
-
Archaeological MuseumThis important museum in Heraklion houses archaeological finds from all over Crete, and is second in importance only to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Pride of place goes to the... Read more
-
Historical Museum of CreteThe Historical Museum of Crete gathers together the riches of Crete's civilisation from the Byzantine and medieval periods. The collection comprises ceramics, folk art, models of the town and other... Read more
-
Central MarketThe market of Heraklion is the richest in Crete and one of the finest in the Mediterranean. Visitors can buy souvenirs, gold, furs, clothes and delicious Cretan products such as olive oil, wine,... Read more
![[+]](/images/button-addtoguide.gif)
symbol, to start adding attractions to your
tailor-made travel guide.
If you were signed in, you could write a review here. Register for a free account, or if you're already a member, sign in.