Lefkara
Lefkara lace has been on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list since 2009
The story
Lefkara is a village on the southeastern slopes of Troodos, in Larnaca district; Pano, or Upper, and Kato, or Lower, Lefkara lie side by side. It is famous for lefkaritika. People call it lace, but really it is hand openwork embroidery in cotton thread on linen, which girls learn from their mothers and grandmothers. According to UNESCO, the tradition goes back at least to the fourteenth century. It shows features of Venetian embroidery and of ancient Greek and Byzantine geometric patterns. In 2009 UNESCO added lefkaritika to the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Lefkara’s second craft is silver; old embroidery and silverwork are on show at the museum in the Patsalos house.
Lefkara means lace (lefkaritika); according to one candidate’s recollection, the question “What is Lefkara famous for?” was on the exam in February 2024. Also worth remembering: Larnaca district, on the UNESCO list since 2009, silversmithing.
Visiting
The Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmithing in the Patsalos house (Pano Lefkara) belongs to the Department of Antiquities; entry is free. From September 16 to April 15 it is open daily 08:30–16:00, from April 16 to September 15 09:30–17:00; hours differ on public holidays, so check before you go.
Photos
Sources
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Lefkara laces or Lefkaritika (2009)
- Department of Antiquities of Cyprus: Local Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith-work, Lefkara
- Δήμος Λευκάρων: Μουσεία και αργυροχοΐα Πάνω Λευκάρων
- Cyprus history exam, personal experience (candidate recollection, Feb 2024)
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