About the Museum

The Folklore Museum of Orpheus in Lefkada was founded in 1978 and is one of the most important museums of the region.

Its main purpose is the preservation and conservation of all kinds of folklore material of the island of Lefkada.
It is housed in a mansion of traditional architecture, which was built in 1850 and occupies a whole block behind the central square of Lefkada, on the side of the church of Agios Spyridon.

Under the guidance of the late Lefkadian folklorist and philologist Pantazi Kontomichi, rare objects of folk tradition, which had begun to disappear due to the 'modern' way of life, were collected. The museum's collection consists of more than a thousand exhibits, covering the whole range of activities and everyday life of the inhabitants of the town and villages of Lefkada. 

The exhibits, dating from the beginning of the 19th century onwards, come mainly from donations but also from purchases or sponsorships of friends and members of Orpheus. The museum was renamed in 2005 to the Folklore Museum of Orpheus "Pantazis Kontomichis" in honour of the Lefkadite teacher.

In the Folklore Museum you can learn about the agricultural, economic and social development of the island, admire handmade works of folk tradition, such as Lefkadian embroidery and local costumes and see representations of the interior of traditional houses of the town and villages of Lefkada.

In the general framework of the Museum's cultural activities, the following are organized:

• Exhibitions and programmes of events for the presentation of the folklore heritage of the island.
• Educational programmes for students.
  
• Folklore Events.
  
• Providing information and knowledge about the history and culture of Lefkada.