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