Folk Culture Shelters in Eressos, Lesvos

The Folk Culture Shelters in Eressos are designed as a living space that bridges the past with the present, preserving and evolving the cultural heritage of the region. Their goal is to promote and deepen the understanding of folk culture through hands-on experiences, allowing visitors to actively participate in the creative process.
This space highlights the connection between humans and nature, showcasing how traditional craftsmanship and tools interact with the environment. At the heart of this initiative lies collective action, encouraging visitors to create, use, and recycle materials, transforming the shelter into a dynamic workshop. The raw materials, such as soil, stone, sand, and reeds, are sourced from the land of Lesvos, while participants engage with nature through cultivation and harvesting, ultimately integrating it into their daily activities.
During the summer months, when Eressos welcomes a large number of visitors, the shelters become a place of cultural exchange. Here, knowledge from urban life intersects with traditional rural wisdom, fostering new ways of living and creative expression. Through workshops, discussions, and artistic collaborations, the space aspires to become a hub of inspiration, craftsmanship, and cultural dialogue.

«Όταν παραμέρισαν τα κύματα του Αιγαίου κι άρχισαν ν’ αναδύονται απ’ το βυθό τα νερά της Λέσβου, υγρά, στιλπνά και γαλήνια, τα κύματα είδαν ξαφνιασμένα το νησί, το νέο τους φίλο… Ας πάμε το μήνυμα στην πιο κοντινή γη, στη γη της Αιολίδας. Ας της πούμε για το νησί, τη νέα γη που έδεσε το φως με τη γαλήνη, για τη γραμμή και την κίνησή του που είναι τόσο ήμερη σα να έχει μέσα της τη σιωπή, ας της πούμε για το θαύμα του Αιγαίου!..»

(απόσπασμα από την «Αιολική γη» του Ηλία Βενέζη, 1943) 

"When the waves of the Aegean parted, and the waters of Lesvos began to emerge from the depths—moist, gleaming, and serene—the waves gazed in surprise at the island, their new friend... Let us carry the message to the nearest land, to the land of Aeolis. Let us tell her about the island, the new land that has bound light with tranquillity, about its form and motion, which are so gentle as if they hold silence within them. Let us tell her about the miracle of the Aegean!.."

(Excerpt from Aeolian Land by Elias Venezis, 1943)

©2025 Natalia Kesente