The Folklore Museum of Kastoria ( el, Λαογραφικό Μουσείο Καστοριάς) also known as Folklore Museum “Nerantzis-Aivazis” (Λαογραφικό Μουσείο “Νεράντζη–Αϊβάζη”), located in

Kastoria Kastoria ( el, Καστοριά, ''Kastoriá'' ) is a city in northern Greece in the region of Western Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria regional unit, in the geographic region of Macedonia. It is situated on a promontory on the weste ...

, Macedonia,

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...

, is housed in one of the city's oldest mansions, the Nerantzis-Aivazis residence near the lake, at 10 Kapetan Lazou Street. The museum has been operating since 1972, and is run by Harmony (a music and literary society). The two-storey premises were built between the 16th and 17th centuries, and survived in such good condition that the museum was able to open without restoration. All the original furniture is still present.Museums of Macedonia

Exhibits

On the ground floor, there are three cellars: the

wine cellar A wine cellar is a storage room for wine in bottles or barrels, or more rarely in carboys, amphorae, or plastic containers. In an ''active'' wine cellar, important factors such as temperature and humidity are maintained by a climate control system ...

contains the

wine press A winepress is a device used to extract juice from crushed grapes during wine making. There are a number of different styles of presses that are used by wine makers but their overall functionality is the same. Each style of press exerts contro ...

, wine barrels and baskets for the grapes; another stored pickles, oil, olives,

preserves Fruit preserves are preparations of fruits whose main preserving agent is sugar and sometimes acid, often stored in glass jars and used as a condiment or spread. There are many varieties of fruit preserves globally, distinguished by the meth ...

, butter, and cheese, and the third contained cereals, pulses and flour. In the latter, pies and bread were made. Wood and coal for heating were also kept on the ground floor. In the courtyard are a well, a boat shelter and a kitchen. There are two family living rooms on the first floor (one each for summer and winter), the former also used as a fur workshop. It has the first sewing machine for furs (which came from France in 1884). On the second floor are two bedrooms (one for husband and wife and the other for the children) and two sitting-rooms, one small and the other large (the main reception room, used on festivals and holidays). It contains a suite of furniture (with traditional places for the hosts, the

metropolitan bishop In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan (alternative obsolete form: metropolite), pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis. Originally, the term referred to the ...

and Turkish dignitaries); in the alcove are low tables for other guests. Above the bedrooms is a balcony, from which unmarried women could observe ceremonies and celebrations in the house. On this floor there is also a lavatory with a secret exit passageway, useful in emergencies.

Gallery

File:Macedonian_Museums-19-Laografiko_Kastorias-91.jpg, alt=Living area with rug, table, two chairs and seating along the walls, Main reception room File:Macedonian_Museums-19-Laografiko_Kastorias-92.jpg, alt=Two large beds near the floor, with a fireplace between them, Main bedroom File:Macedonian_Museums-19-Laografiko_Kastorias-93.jpg, alt=Small dark space, with casks and wooden ladder, Wine cellar File:Macedonian_Museums-19-Laografiko_Kastorias-94.jpg, alt=Room with many stained-glass windows, small table in center and seating along the walls, Kiosk File:Macedonian_Museums-19-Laografiko_Kastorias-95.jpg, alt=Entryway, with stone floor and wooden stairs, Ground floor

References

Citations

Sources

External links

"Museums-Kastoria"
Municipality of Kastoria (in Greek)
www.windmillstravel.com
{{Authority Control Historic house museums in Greece

Museums in Kastoria Museums established in 1972