Crafts of Crete - Historic Museum in Crete - Iraklio

Hills with wild herbs above Zaros, Crete.

On a hike high in the hills of central Crete, near Zaros, we came upon woven and embroidered hand crafted bags displayed on the stone walls of a lake-side restaurant. How beautiful, but just a small sampling of the gorgeous historical crafts we were to see a few days later in Iraklio at the Historical Museum of Crete.

Embroidery of Crete in Zaros

Crete Weaving in Zaros

Pictures from the Historical Museum of Crete 

For a full understanding and appreciation of the beautiful handmade crafts of Crete, be sure to visit the Cretan folklore collection on the third floor of the Historical Museum of Crete in Iraklio. What a find this was! The entire museum was fascinating, but I had no idea of the extensive collections of hand crafted antique laces, embroideries, woven cloths, musical instruments, pottery, jewelry and basketry all so beautifully displayed on the top floor. 

Lace making display at the Historical Museum of Crete.

Basket weaving at the Historical Museum of Crete. Beautiful!

Crafts of Crete. Embroidery & Pottery of Crete

Wonderful re-creation of a Cretan home of days gone by, displaying crafts and way of life.

The loom was large and central in the small Cretan home of yesteryear.

Handmade wooden musical string instruments of Crete.

Gorgeous embroidery of Crete

More stunning weaving, embroidery and lace hand crafted in Crete.

Beautiful Cretan embroidery, and weavings displayed in imaginative and realistic setting.