Leonidio weaving & embroidery tour

One of the projects we arranged was for the Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union (Eesti Rahvakunsti ja Käsitöö Liit) to various locations in the Peloponnese and Athens. The theme was getting acquainted with local artisans and folk and traditional crafts.

We chose Leonidio which is one of those areas where tradition is preserved due to its geographical isolation.

The building of the Fabbrica has a long and pleated history. It was founded in 1855 and the construction was completed in 1859. Originally it was built as an elementary school with financial contribution of the inhabitants of Leonidio. For a period of time it accommodated the town hall.

In 1924, the power plant of Apostolos Kostakis was installed in the school building and the next year it provided the electric power to the city, at the time when only few cities in Greece had electricity. In the same building a flour mill and an olive press mill were installed.

Before the war in 1940, the building was sold to new owners and continued its operation. During the Civil War, in October 1948, the Fabbrica was blown up in the fights of the rebels and the government armed forces on the other. It reopened shortly, after its repairs and it was finally closed in 1967, after the takeover of Public Power Corporation.

In the 1987 the request to convert the abandoned complex in a cultural center was approved by the Municipality of Leonidio. In the following years, from 1989 to 1995, the project of the restoration of the Fabbrica was funded by the state. 

The Fabbrica of Culture, (as the building is named today) in order to preserve its traditional name, started its operation in 2014 as the “Centre for the Promotion of Agricultural History and the Sea Routes in East Peloponnese”. 

After the Fabbrica of Culture we walked through the picturesque streets of Leonidio to the Tsikaliotis mansion where local ladies had organized for us an exhibition of their handicrafts. 

In the area of Leonidio we were able to locate and visit probably the last workshop of traditional woven carpets and handicrafts. 

Finally, the tours would include swimming at the small port of Leonidio and lunch in the local tavernas.