Folklore Museum of Chania, Chania

The Folklore Museum of Chania is a fascinating place that takes visitors back in time to the 18th and 19th centuries in Crete. Located in the heart of the Old Town, right next to the Catholic Church of Chania, the museum is housed in a small yet cozy building. It was founded in 1990 by two women, Aspasia Bikaki and Irini Koumandraki, who traveled to Cretan villages to collect traditional items that represent the way locals lived in the past.

The museum's collection is well-organized and includes a variety of exhibits such as embroidery, textiles, lace, handicrafts, and agricultural tools. Visitors can explore different rooms of the house, each centered on a specific subject. For instance, there is a kitchen that displays old cooking utensils and furniture, a bridal bedroom, and a traditional living room where the engagement used to take place.

One of the highlights of the museum is the opportunity to witness how people used to do their daily agricultural tasks, such as plowing, sowing, harvesting, and threshing. Wax dolls wearing traditional clothes, along with machines for the raw material process like silk or wool, are also on display. Some of the embroideries showcase daily-life representations as well.

Another impressive feature of the Folklore Museum is the room that resembles a cellar, where visitors can see pots for raki making and representations of the grape-treading process before wine-making. This gives visitors a glimpse into the local culture and traditions of the past.