Spilia can be explored through a variety of themes: the Popular Art Museum displays items from traditional homes and tools used in traditional trades; the Museum of shoemaker Christos Chrysanthou focuses on a single craft. Other points of interest include Krya Vrysi, once the village’s most important water source, and the Tomb of Panoukla, a feature of the landscape. In spring, almond trees surrounding Spilia shape the landscape; walnuts from Spilia are also very well known in Cyprus. Together, these themes offer different ways to explore the village’s culture, history and landscape.
Museums: household items and shoemaking
The Popular Art Museum is located at the entrance to Spilia’s village centre, on the community’s main road. It was founded by the PROODOS association in 2005. The exhibition includes almost all the furniture and household items from a traditional home, as well as some tools used in traditional trades. This combination gives the museum a broad focus: its themes include both home furnishings and tools associated with various traditional trades. By contrast, the Museum of the Shoemaker focuses on a specific craft. If you are weighing up the content of the two museums, one offers a broader look at household items and tools from several trades, while the other focuses on the shoemaker’s work.
The Museum of shoemaker Christos Chrysanthou displays his shoemaker’s bench, made in 1920, the tools used with it, Singer sewing machines and an account book dated 1933. The dates refer to different items: 1920 is the year the workbench was made, and 1933 is the date on the account book. Visits are possible by appointment; arrange a time before your visit. The collection offers an insight into a single craft, while the Popular Art Museum brings together household items and tools from traditional trades on a broader scale.
Local history and landscape
Until around 1960, Krya Vrysi was Spilia’s most important water source. This former role in supplying the village adds another dimension to its history alongside the museum objects: the importance of a water source to Spilia. The approximate period helps place this historical function in context.
Another point of interest is the Tomb of Panoukla. It consists of two rock blocks, one on top of the other, on the hillside east of Spilia, in the Laou area. Its form and precise location distinguish this landscape feature from the museum collections. In terms of subject matter, the tomb represents the landscape, while the museums provide insights into household items and crafts. You can therefore consider Spilia’s cultural and landscape features as distinct but equally tangible perspectives.
Spring and local walnuts
In spring, almond trees surrounding Spilia shape the landscape. The season thus adds a distinctive seasonal consideration when choosing when to travel. If you are interested in the landscape at this time of year, the almond trees are a characteristic feature; the historical and museum-related attractions tell you about other aspects of the village.
Walnuts are also part of the village’s local profile: they are very well known in Cyprus. Alongside culture and landscape, they give your trip a connection to a product specifically associated with Spilia. When deciding which themes you would like to shape your stay, you can consider a range of different options: the collections and shoemaking, Krya Vrysi’s former role, the Tomb of Panoukla, almond trees in spring and the well-known walnuts from Spilia.
Discover more destinations: Kannavia, Latsia, Galata, Askas, Mathiatis, Peristerona, Aglantzia, Lympia
For the broader travel overview: Nicosia.
