«Nispitas» Folklore Collection

A seventy-year journey into the roots of Crete, through the hands that saved them one object at a time.

In the heart of Kounali, a small and unspoilt village in Lasithi, Michalis Chourdakis — known locally as Nispitas — devoted almost seven decades of his life to one quiet, determined mission: to make sure that nothing was lost of what had shaped the everyday life of the people of Crete.

A tool, a household vessel, an object that anyone else would have passed over as old and useless was, to him, part of a story worth saving. Year after year, his personal quest grew into one of the richest folklore collections in the region.

He did not carry that effort alone. His son, Kostis Chourdakis, stood beside him so that a lifetime's dream could find a home and open its doors to visitors, neighbours and schools. That is how the «Nispitas» Folklore Collection came into being — roots that keep the memory of an entire land alive.

The opening of the Collection in July 2026 turned into a true celebration of tradition: a blessing, traditional treats, live music and the warm hospitality of the Chourdakis family came together to create a deeply moving occasion, full of genuine Cretan spirit — the very same feeling that meets every visitor who crosses the threshold today.

A home, not simply an exhibition space

The most precious things are rarely found where everyone goes looking for them. Rizes Kritis is not housed in an imposing building in a city centre, but in an authentic, traditional Cretan house in the heart of picturesque Kounali — where time seems to have stood still. Every corner has been arranged with love, filled with objects that carry centuries of memory, turning a visit into a deeply personal experience rather than simply a tour.

03 — THE COLLECTION

An authentic picture of old Crete

In the exhibition rooms of Rizes Kritis, you will not find glass cases keeping life at arm's length — you will find life itself, just as earlier generations of Cretans lived it. Every object tells a story of work, survival, craft and everyday life.

A bedroom of the old Cretan house: a low bed dressed in hand-woven covers, embroidered textiles hung along the stone walls and clay jars standing on the flagstone floor.

Copper pans and trays, old rifles and farming tools hung across a stone wall, with a lace-covered bed in the foreground and an arched doorway opening into the next room.

The Collection includes:

EXHIBIT 01
Farming tools
witnesses to the hard, but deeply dignified, work of the land
EXHIBIT 02
Household utensils
the objects that filled the homes and kitchens of the Cretan countryside
EXHIBIT 03
Everyday objects
the small details of a simpler life, yet one rich in meaning
EXHIBIT 04
Collections of traditional trades
tools and materials from crafts and trades that have all but been forgotten today
EXHIBIT 05
School exhibits
objects that awaken memories of the old village schools
EVER-CHANGING
The Collection is not static. Only part of the treasure gathered over the years is on display at any one time, and the exhibits are rotated periodically — so that every visit to Rizes Kritis is different from the last.

04 — OUR VISION

Bringing today closer to yesterday

The purpose of the «Nispitas» Collection goes far beyond simply displaying objects. Its central aim is to build a bridge between the people of today and those of the past — to give children and young people in particular the chance to see at first hand how the generations before them lived, worked and created.

In an age when everything moves so quickly, Rizes Kritis offers a pause: a chance to remember — or to discover for the very first time — our roots and the cultural identity of this place.

05 — GROUP VISITS

History is best taught when it can be touched

The «Nispitas» Collection welcomes organised groups of visitors: schools, cultural and folklore societies, clubs, student groups, coach tours and groups of friends who want to get to know this place in depth. Through a tour tailored to the group, visitors come into direct contact with the history and folklore of Crete through authentic objects rather than books and screens.

To arrange a group visit, get in touch with us.

The stone-built village church of Kounali, its bell tower and cross against a clear sky, standing on the flagstone square in the afternoon light.

06 — KOUNALI

A secret village in the heart of Lasithi

The Collection is housed in Kounali, one of the smallest and quietest villages in eastern Crete, built at an altitude of 285 metres and looking out over the northern shores of the Cretan Sea. It lies around 9 kilometres north of Neapoli and is administratively part of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos.

Kounali is not a stop on the tour-bus route — it is one of those corners of Crete that you only discover if you are looking for something more real. A village where time passes more slowly, where people keep their traditions alive, and where a visit to the Folklore Collection becomes an invitation to meet a Crete far from the tourist crowds.

07 — THE GIFT SHOP

Take a piece of tradition home with you

Within the Collection there is a small, carefully curated gift shop devoted to handmade Cretan products. Every piece you will find here has been made with care by local hands and carries something of the soul of this place.

We invite you to discover these pieces and, as you leave, to take with you not merely a souvenir, but a genuine piece of Crete.