16°C
The Museum of Woodcarving, at the foot of Psiloritis and in the heart of Crete, is a unique cultural and artistic destination. Located in Axos Mylopotamos, just an hour from Rethymno and Heraklion, it houses the permanent collection of self-taught woodcarver Georgios Koutantos, who has been involved in woodcarving since the age of nine. The museum was inaugurated in 2010.
In a modern, two-story space of 300 square meters, more than a hundred woodcarvings are exhibited, all created with a simple hammer and scalpel. The subjects of the sculptures are drawn from Cretan folklore, nature, mythology and religious tradition. Works such as “The Lyrar”, “Grandfather and Grandmother”, “Kri Kri”, “The Eagle and the Snake” and “The Little Mermaid” stand out.
Apart from the aesthetic pleasure, the visitor has the opportunity to discover elements of Cretan society, customs and traditions, traditional occupations, social structures and historical events. Of interest are the wooden trunks in which marbles from the Cretan revolutions were found.
Each exhibit is accompanied by an informative text in Greek and English, indicating its title, dimensions, type of wood, date of creation and symbolic content. Most of the works have physical dimensions, while some are impressive in size, such as “The Eagle and the Serpent” (six meters long) and “My Parents and I” (three meters high).
A visit to the museum can be combined with the important antiquities of Axos and the attractions of the area, offering a complete experience of art, history and tradition.
*Photos come from the official website of the museum.
Museum
Popular Culture
Axos Mylopotamos, Rethymnon
+30 6937691387
15 April – 31 October
Monday – Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00
1 November – 14 April
Sunday: 10.00- 17.00
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