Symi’s Secret Museum
Actually, it’s not a secret, but it’s no much known about or publicised as far as I can see, and on Tuesday, I finally went inside and had a look around. I’m talking about the Kyrillos Collection, a private museum/collection belonging to Ioannis Megaloudis with the title ‘The Folklore, Historical and Commercial Archive of Symi.’ The sign outside reads, ‘Collection of Greek Folk Musical Instruments’, but there is much more on show.
The ground floor level contains cabinets displaying musical instruments, pipes (floyera), Tsabouna (goat-skin bagpipe), violins, guitars, lyres, bouzouki and others, plus music books from the churches, some very old, and other musical items, all of which hail from Symi. It’s a large space, and Ioannis is on hand to tell you about them and show you the celestes and sandouri.
Sorry about the rough photos by the way. Downstairs is another treasure trove with items from Symi commerce over the years. Here, we were shown pottery and glass, bread-making items, sewing machines, church items, copper cooking pots… There’s a whole section dedicated to coffee with grinders and brikies, a selection from WWII, shells and the like, printing presses and bocks, shoemakers equipment, goldsmith’s tools… You name it, there is something from each of Symi’s historical trades. There are even ledgers showing the import/export of flour from as far away as Australia.
The collection is, to use an over-used word, amazing. Awe-inspiring actually, considering it is a private collection, beautifully and expertly housed behind glass, or on shelves and dusted and well preserved. As far as I know, there is no funding for it, and Ioannis houses it in his own property and curates it between 10.30 and 15.30 every day. There is a small brochure and other information available and no charge to enter.
That no charge thing didn’t feel right to mother and I, so when we left, I tried to press a note into the curator’s hand, but at first, he wouldn’t have it, saying there was no need. I told him it was for the electricity, and he accepted it then, but a moment later, gave me a CD of traditional Symi music played by his son and his band as a present.
To find this hidden gem, you need to find the junior school at the back of Yialos, not difficult, it’s behind the main square on the left, by the basketball court. Or, you can walk through St John’s courtyard and up the steps at the back, and there, in the tree-covered lane on your right, you will see artefacts on the wall. The door is right there. Go in, take a look and you’ll be as amazed as we were not only with the history on display but by the fact that it’s privately organised, collected, run and funded.
