

Kymi Folklore Museum

The ancient inhabitants of Kymi, voyagers and colonizers, left their signature throughout the length and breadth of Europe. And the people of 19th century Kymi followed the same seaways skillfully managing one of the largest merchant fleets in Greece.

What they learned and what they brought to their island of origin, in creative osmosis with the great traditions of Evia, made their lives and their town unique in beauty and poetry. And the Folklore Museum of Kymi could only be located in a lofty mansion that proudly pierces the sky with its cornices, as the bows of the boats of Kymi pierced the frothy waves in the past.

In the halls of the museum the archaic nature of the countryside is no less significant when faced with urban elegance and grace. Besides, both derive from the same modest, yet simultaneously ludic spirit, earth fermented by the sun and the salty ancestral sense of proportion. Ceramic and wooden utensils, repeating lines and forms from prehistoric times, looms and metal tools, embroidery, shirts and decorated screens, painted and carved articles, grab the visitor’s attention and dazzle the eyes with their pluralism. The candle making shop that one finds in the basement of the museum, is another of the unique areas of interest, like the laundry room, a true ritual with its own requirements and symbols.

The museum's photo, film and recording archive, preserves other chapters of past, elusive and ethereal life but no less important components of the human experience. The museum also has an Annex in another old mansion in the village of Pyrgos, which houses the collection of 19th century folk artist, Sotiris Chrysanthopoulos.

The museum, in addition to its scientific and publishing activities, prepares and arranges a plethora of educational programs and initiatives in order to spread and deepen contact with its treasures. The outdoor theater is also not idle, being used by the Educational and Cultural Association of Kimi in continuous collaboration with other academic institutions, offering a kaleidoscope of events including cinema, theater, music, speeches and many more.

