Museum of Cretan Folklore Opens its Doors in Heraklion

Dancers wearing traditional Cretan costumes.

A new museum of folklore art has opened its doors in the village of Daphnes in Heraklion on Crete, offering residents and visitors a chance to explore the island’s history.

The Museum of Cretan Folklore of Spyros and Eliana Kokotos features a rare collection of weavings and icons, housed within the family’s ancestral estate, the Varoucha Estate. The main house, a listed building of 19th-century neoclassical architecture, has been meticulously preserved.

The museum was inaugurated on May 26 by Dora Bakogianni, a member of the Greek Parliament. “It is important that visitors will be able to come here and understand the cultural wealth of Crete,” Bakogianni said, thanking Spyros Kokotos for his contribution to Greek tourism and the island.

Kokotos family along with Dora Bakogianni, member of the Greek Parliament (left).

Local stakeholders and cultural associations attended the occasion, including the Deputy Minister of Development Maximos Senetakis, Emmanouela Vassilaki, Manolis Papakaliatis, Andreas Kouris, and composer Dimitris Kontopoulos. The Kokotos family also invited all the contributors to the project, including designers, contractors, and partners from their hotels in Elounda.

Dora Bakogianni, member of the Greek Parliament, during the inauguration of the museum.

Elounda S.A. operates three luxurious hotels: Elounda Mare, Porto Elounda, and Elounda Peninsula. Located in the Mediterranean destination is the largest Six Senses Spa in Europe. Guests can enjoy unique dining experiences at restaurants such as Il Borro Tuscan Bistro, The Ferragamo Dining Concept, and Sumosan, which offers contemporary Japanese cuisine.