Lefkara

 

Lefkara has been well restored to its original condition and is worth a visit, it has cobbled streets and interesting architecture. The village is divided in two parts, upper and lower Lefkara, this is because it lies in the hills. You will find it between Limassol and Larnaka.

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It is most famous for its embroidery and lacemaking and this form began flourishing here during the Venetian period, when the locals learnt the craft from the ladies who would spend the hot summers in the cooler air of Lefkara. Their personal linnen was brought from Italy and was copied and adapted over the years.

Lefkara embroidery is done on pure Irish linen, and the families of Lefkara have been practising their art for centuries. Men of the village used to travel to Europe to sell their women's work, but now the people of Europe and elsewhere come here to buy lace, embroidery and silverware.

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The women of Lefkara learn their art from an early age, and so by the time they reach maturity their workmanship is very fine

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See Maria here

Cyprus has been making fabrics and exporting them since the Crusades

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Filigree silverware is made in Lefkara, and you will see much of it during your visit.

Be careful of imported fake lace and embroidery, as we have heard stories of cheap Chinese work being sold as the real thing. The authentic 'lefkarita' is of not more than a dozen original designs, and should be the same from both sides, as well as being on pure Irish linen. The thread is French DMC, cotton perle and only comes in three colours, namely white, brown and cream.

If you need a guide, Chrystalla is your woman.

These cloths take months to produce and 45 X 90cm may cost from about £45 to C£250 depending on the quality.

 

There is a story which says that Leonardo Da Vinci came here and bought an Altar cloth from Lefkara, which now rests in the cathedral at Milan.

 

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Three generations of lace makers

If you make your way to Lefkara on your own, be warned of the common occurrence of "The incident" It may be a broken down car that flags you down, the excuse to get you into 'his wife's shop or house '. As long as you don't mind a bit of pushiness, it is a harmless enough experience, but it is a standard fake so be careful about overspending.

We shall be putting a selection of Lefkara lace into our online Christmas gift shop at some point, so if you want anything specific, please let us know here ASAP so we can order it well in advance.

Various traditional designs
 Courtesy of The D&A Craft Centre
 

 

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