The Historical and Folklore Museum is located in a stone-built, narrow alley near the central square of Arnaia and is part of the historic center of the settlement. It is housed in the Iatrou Mansion, also known as “Yatradiko,” one of the most beautiful buildings in the settlement and the oldest in Halkidiki. It is probably dated to the second half of the 18th century or the early 19th century. The building belonged to Konstantinos Katsangelos and housed the folklore collection, which had been placed there by the Cultural and Educational Association of Arnaia. It has been functioning as a museum since the summer of 1999 and is currently owned by the Municipality of Aristotelis.
ARCHITECTURE OF THE BUILDING
The mansion is one of the best-preserved and most impressive architectural works in Arnaia, probably created by craftsmen from Epirus. It is a unique structure built on a plot with a steep slope. Architecturally, it falls into the category of traditional Arnaian houses with dense building arrangements and various forms of external and internal architectural elements.
It is a simple and austere two-story building in terms of construction and organization. Its floor plan is shaped like the letter P. The ground floor consists of two spaces: one without windows, which apparently functioned as a stable, and a second space to the right of the entrance, with a separate entrance, which was connected to the second floor via an internal staircase. This NW part of the building has the form of a tower, with small openings on the upper floor and small built arches at the level of the floor.
The second floor included two rooms and the characteristic architectural feature of local architecture, the “chayati” (covered balcony), which runs along the main façade and is supported by wooden beams. The “chayati” was the heart of the home. It was a gathering space, a reception area, and a place for summer living. At the same time, it accommodated domestic activities. The woodwork of the upper floor is particularly well-crafted, with embossed details, another element that indicates it was a home of a wealthy family from Arnaia.
The “Yatradiko” is an exquisite example of local traditional architecture. It was described by Melina Mercouri, when she was Minister of Culture, as a “work of art” and a jewel of the area. A ministerial decision approved its restoration (Government Gazette 866/B/2.11.82), making it imperative to make every effort to preserve these historical buildings of Arnaia.
THE EXHIBITS
The need to establish and operate a Historical and Folklore Museum in Arnaia, in order to preserve and disseminate its cultural wealth, was warmly and immediately welcomed by the local community. This reaction was quickly expressed through the donation of items from existing folklore collections, as well as individual contributions.
The local residents, who are the only donors of the exhibits, contributed valuable and rare objects, family heirlooms, everyday items such as livestock, agricultural, and beekeeping tools, and many other objects from the historical and folklore tradition of the area.
From an exhibition perspective, the Historical and Folklore Museum of Arnaia is not complex. On the contrary, it provides a concise and holistic view of the historical and folklore material world of the settlement over time. The exhibits are displayed in cases along the walls of the mansion and are presented in twelve small and distinct thematic sections with meaningful coherence on the ground floor and the upper floor, allowing the visitor to have a comprehensive view without the feeling of a cramped or overcrowded exhibition space.
THEMATIC SECTIONS
The thematic sections include items from the daily life of the people.
- On the ground floor, there is an exhibition of agricultural tools (seeding, harvesting, threshing), equipment and utensils for bread making (millstones, dough bowls, bread stamps, etc.), beekeeping items (hives, frames, honey extractors, etc.), and woodworking and construction tools (molds for tiles, files, hammers, etc.).
- On the mezzanine, there are tools for wood processing, cobbler tools, coffee-making items (roasters, coffee mills, cups, old serving trays, traditional café items, etc.), as well as the first radio that arrived in the village in 1941.
- On the upper floor, there are sections with the textile equipment (looms, spinning wheels, spindles, bobbins, Xanthian machines, etc.), tools and items of everyday domestic use (cooking utensils, containers for transporting and storing liquids, cauldrons, stoves, washing tubs, etc.), and a fascinating 200-year-old fire pump based on the fire pump invented by Ctesibius (285-220 BC).
- At the same time, significant emphasis has been placed on the photographic material from the life of the village in the past, which decorates every corner of the museum.
- In the highest room of the mansion, there is also a room set up like an old “onta” (traditional room) with all the furniture and items that were found in such rooms in traditional Arnaian houses. Finally, there is the possibility of showing films about the history of the area, as well as a space for educational programs.
Text by archaeologist Athena Marathianou
Info
For information, call: +30 23723 50100