Fikardou, Nicosia
DirectionsFree Admission
April 15 - October 30, daily: 09:30 - 17:00
November 1 - April 15, daily: 08:30 - 16:00
All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Note: The CultureSpot team is doing its best to provide the most accurate information through regular updates. However, operating hours, entrance fees and any details thereof are subject to change without prior notice. Visitors are recommended to verify the information before planning their visit.
In the early 19th century, the village of Fikardou was abandoned, but it has since been designated an Ancient Monument and meticulously restored to safeguard its 18th-century houses, featuring exquisite woodwork and traditional rural architecture. To provide insights into the past, two of these houses have been converted into museums, showcasing rural artifacts and depicting the life of bygone eras.
The House of Katsinioros, named after its last proprietor, stands as a two-story stone manor with a steep wooden roof, boasting architectural elements reminiscent of the 16th century. Following the customary layout of that era, the upper floor served as the living quarters, while the ground floor was dedicated to grape pressing and storing various agricultural products and tools. The museum now offers a glimpse of these historical functions.
Additionally, an exhibit comprising photographs, drawings, and texts illustrates the meticulous restoration process of the houses. This effort earned both the houses and the entire village the prestigious Europa Nostra Award in 1987.
The second house, once belonging to Achilleas Dimitri, has been repurposed into a weaver's workshop and a guest house for scholars.
Located on the ground floor of the Old Archbishopric, the Ethnographic Museum of Cyprus boasts an extensive collection of Cypriot folk art from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the exhibits, visitors can admire various wood-carved objects, tapestries, embroidery, pottery, Cypriot folk costumes, and hand-woven materials produced on the loom.
The manor house stands as one of the most significant remaining structures from the 18th century in Lefkosia (Nicosia). It underwent restoration by the Department of Antiquities to serve as the Cyprus Ethnological Museum, and in 1988, it was honored with the prestigious 'Europa Nostra' award.
Constructed in 1793 using local bloc-cut sandstone, this two-story building once belonged to Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios, the prominent Dragoman of Cyprus. Tragically, he was executed by the Ottomans in 1809.
The Ethnographic Museum located in Avgorou village is accommodated in a traditional two-story residence known as the Koutras House, dating back to 1921. This museum beautifully portrays the daily life of past generations. Its exhibits boast a remarkable assortment of rare 19th-century wood-carved furniture, costumes, silverware, and pottery.
The Ethnographic Museum, founded in 1958, is a private institution showcasing the personal collection of the late George Eliades. This esteemed intellectual had a passion for archaeology, history, folk art, and literature, leading him to amass a remarkable array of art treasures from the rural regions of Cyprus, particularly Paphos.
The Local Ethnographic Museum of Geroskipou, established in 1978, is situated in the traditional 'House of Hadjismith,' an 18th-century building. The museum boasts a vast and diverse collection of artifacts from all across Cyprus, offering insights into the daily life, crafts, activities, and various forms of Cypriot folk art during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the rural crafts displayed are pottery, scarf making, rug weaving, rope making, and the renowned silk manufacturing that brought fame to the island.