Paphos Ethnographic Museum
The Ethnographic Museum is a private museum that opened in 1958 and consists of the collection of the late George Eliades - an intellectual who had an interest in archaeology, history, folk art and literature, and collected art treasures from the countryside of Cyprus, and particularly the region of Pafos (Paphos).
Housed in an 1894 residence, the two-storey building is made of stone, with three unusual Gothic-style arches and beautiful gardens.
The exhibits include: costumes (particularly rural costumes and trimmings); traditional carved wooden furniture; Venetian mirrors; farming tools; kitchen utensils; clay artefacts; looms and woven articles, along with archaeological finds that date mainly from the Chalcolithic period and include coins, jewellery, amphorae and water jugs, amongst other items.
The museum can also hold civil and religious weddings in cooperation with the Anglican Church.
Region:
Pafos
Address:
Exo Vrisis, 1
GPS coordinates:
Lat: 34.773071 Lon: 32.421459
Contact No:
Tel: +357 26 932 010 / +357 26 944 833, Fax: +357 26 948 478
Operating Hours:
Winter: Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00
Summer: Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 18:00
Sunday: 10:00 - 14:00 (all year round)
Operating Period:
All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee:
€3,00
Website:
www.ethnographicalmuseum.com
Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
The Ethnographic Museum is housed in a two-story stone building of 1894, with three unusual Gothic arches and beautiful gardens. It was founded in 1958 to house the private collection of Giorgos Eliades, an intellectual collector with a keen interest in the cultural heritage of his home town. He collected objects of archaeological and folklore interest from the countryside of Cyprus, especially from the Paphos area.
The museum exhibits an impressive variety, in terms of the chronological range they cover, from antiquity to modern times, but also to the range of materials from which they are made, including fine clay items and luxury items. In particular, the visitor can take a tour through the exhibition areas and can see archaeological finds of the Chalcolithic period such as jewellery, amphorae and water jugs. One will also discover Venetian mirrors and carved traditional furniture, folk costumes (mainly rural), but also useful objects, as well as agricultural tools of the last century. Of course, looms, as well as textiles, are also on display, with the latter being remarkable works of folk art.
The Paphos Ethnographic Museum is a private museum owned by the Eliades family. The exhibits collected in it relate to the history, culture, folklore and art of Cyprus, in particular the Paphos region. The museum is based in an interesting architectural building from the late nineteenth century, with neo-Gothic elements.
The exhibitions of the Ethnographic Museum include textiles and clothing, traditional carved wooden furniture, Venetian mirrors, tools and various home furnishings, and weaving looms. We will also see archaeological findings, such as jewelry, coins and fragments of vessels.
The Paphos Ethnographic Museum was founded in 1958 based on the private collection of George Eliades. This Cypriot intellectual throughout his life collected interesting and valuable exhibits in the field of archeology and art, including folk art. Originally, the museum was known as the "Folk Art Museum". It received its current name in 1971.
The Ethnographic Museum is an interesting and attractive venue for weddings in Paphos which is proving to be a very popular choice for many couples. The museum is set in a private house which has been owned by the Eliades family for generations. George Eliades was a renowned archaeologist and founded the Ethnographic museum in 1958, his wife and daughter continue run the museum, it doesn’t receive any funding or aid from the government and is entirely funded by the Eliades family. It is a little different from a typical museum as it is housed in a family home, and the exhibits give a specific picture of living conditions, customs and habits of the Cypriot people throughout various periods of time. It is surrounded by an attractive private walled courtyard which provides a slightly different, traditional, very attractive and private setting for a wedding ceremony, whilst at the same time offering a little bit of the history of Cyprus. Civil ceremonies are conducted in the courtyard by Registrars from Paphos Town Hall, which is a short distance from the museum, or alternatively you can have an Anglican service conducted by a local priest.