Museums

Μετάφραση

Sarakatsaniki Stani

The "Sarakatsani Stani" is a unique open-air museum which aims to present the life and culture of the Sarakatsani people. The Sarakatsani people were nomads engaged in livestock. This open-air folklore museum is located at Gyftokampos, near the village of Skamneli and was founded by the Sarakatsani Brotherhood of Epirus. It covers an area of ​​20 acres and lies in the midle of a public forest, covered mainly with fir trees. The area was donated to Brotherhood by the Ministry of Agriculture for the purposes of the museum.

During the winter the Sarakatsani people used to move with their animals from the mountains of Pindus to pastures in the plains of Ioannina and Etoloakarnania, and live in specially designed huts according to their tradition. This museum is a copy of such a seasonal settlement. It includes real size “lodgings” (thatched cabins used as houses or workshops), the “ovoros” and “greki” (animal kennels). Depending on its use, each lodging is equipped with the corresponding objects of everyday life, from bedding to cookware, looms and cheese tools.

Every first weekend of August since 1979, an annual meeting and festival takes place with the participation of many Sarakatsani people. The museum is open throughout the year and the admission is free. However, it may difficult to wander around the huts in winter due to snow that usually covers the area that time of the year.