The Akamas Rural Life and Traditions – Crafts Training Centre in Droushia focuses on the importance of human existence in the region. This was incorporated into the Droushia Community Council building, which also features a multi-purpose room, educational areas and a library. The Droushia Community Council covered the majority of the costs of the building and the museum and was completed in July 2021.
The museum showcases the landscape of the peninsula and emphasises the timeless activity of human presence on the peninsula, which represents an important reserve of culture and history. In addition to the exhibits, there is extensive use of visuals and explanatory signs.
The references in the museum’s descriptions were verified by research from literature, services, and various other sources, as well as oral testimonies from local residents. The relevant research was expanded to include both the Pafos region and the entire island.
A comparison of Cyprus with other nations was also attempted, following references to the art and quality of traditional agricultural products, manufacturing and handicraft items like as silk, cotton, textiles, baked goods, wine products, and so on.
The foregoing is accompanied with extensive bilingual information on signs, as well as historical and other references, which are interesting and suited for self-guided visits as well as for educational purposes. The signs employ phraseology and object nomenclature from the Cypriot dialect, as well as local idioms. This part has piqued tourists’ curiosity, while the local dialect has been preserved to the greatest extent feasible through the recording of idioms.
The museum’s theme starts with the Akamas Peninsula’s principal features, which include the region’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity and birdlife, myths and local legends, antiquities, and folk architecture. Because the museum is dedicated to villages and people, the exhibits, pictures, and allusions focus on agricultural production and processing, traditional clothing and professions, objects of daily life, and handicrafts, and the manmade agricultural landscape.
At one entrance, there is a symbolic portrayal of a mosaic from the archaeological site of Pafos with the three degrees (Clotho with a spear and rocket, Lachesis, and Atropos). A floor mosaic depicts an impressive protected geomorph of Droushia with the toponym K.A.R.H. (Cypriot Fighters Risky Leaders) in another entrance.
The museum is vibrant with artisans demonstrating handicrafts such as weaving on looms, embroideries with silk cocoons, painting on gourds, and manufacturing flutes on the premises, while a free guided tour is usually provided. There is also the option of seeing films in a specially designed space with bench seats, which is ideal for larger groups and school visits.
The museum quickly rose to supra-local prominence. It increased the life of the village and the surrounding area, which the community is especially proud of. It attracts both locals and tourists and hosts events, exhibitions, and workshops.
