Soufli is a town in northern Greece known for its silk industry. In the 19th century, Soufli flourished as a center of silk production. It remains the only city in Greece and Europe that still breeds silkworms and processes silk yarn from cocoons. Soufli produces high quality silk and displays its silk heritage in museums, including the Old Silk Museum housed in the historic Kourtidis Mansion that shows the history and techniques of sericulture, and the Art of Silk Museum run by the Tsiakiris Family Silkmills that demonstrates the industrial silk production process. Soufli aims to preserve its silk traditions while showing off its cultural heritage to visitors through its museums.

1. Soufli
The center of silk production..

2. Information about our beautiful
small town!
• Soufli is a town in theSoufli is a town in the
Evros regional unitEvros regional unit, Greece, notable for, Greece, notable for
the silk industry that flourished there inthe silk industry that flourished there in
the 19th century. The town center isthe 19th century. The town center is
only 500m from theonly 500m from the Evros RiverEvros River..

4. Soufli Still Produces Silk for
Europe
• The silk production in the Greek city of Soufli
has a long history dating from Byzantium ages.
The families of Soufli which were involved with
the silk industry could not even imagine that this
“noble” raw material would be widely used one
day.
• Soufli is the only city in Greece and Europe to be
involved with the silkworm rearing and
processing of yarn taken from the cocoon. Silk
produced in Soufli is of high quality, often
considered better than the Chinese.

5. • Soufli is showing off its silk in several exhibitionsSoufli is showing off its silk in several exhibitions
and museums. The older Silk Museum in Soufliand museums. The older Silk Museum in Soufli
(Thrace) belongs to the Museum Network of the(Thrace) belongs to the Museum Network of the
Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP). It isPiraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP). It is
housed in the Kourtidis Mansion (1883) and was sethoused in the Kourtidis Mansion (1883) and was set
up in 1990. The purpose of the permanent exhibitionup in 1990. The purpose of the permanent exhibition
housed on the ground floor of the Kourtidis Mansionhoused on the ground floor of the Kourtidis Mansion
is to show the pre-industrial techniques by whichis to show the pre-industrial techniques by which
silkworms were bred (sericulture) and silk wassilkworms were bred (sericulture) and silk was
woven.woven.
• The first exhibition unit relates the history of silkThe first exhibition unit relates the history of silk
over time, beginning with China, continuing throughover time, beginning with China, continuing through
Greek and Roman antiquity and Byzantium andGreek and Roman antiquity and Byzantium and
covering both the West and the Ottoman period. Thecovering both the West and the Ottoman period. The
second exhibition unit has as its theme the stages insecond exhibition unit has as its theme the stages in
the breeding of silkworms from the production of thethe breeding of silkworms from the production of the
“silk-seed” to the suffocation of the cocoons.“silk-seed” to the suffocation of the cocoons.

6. • A more recent addition to the silk museums in SoufliA more recent addition to the silk museums in Soufli
is the Art of Silk Museum belonging to the Tsiakirisis the Art of Silk Museum belonging to the Tsiakiris
Family Silkmills. Opened in September 2008 in aFamily Silkmills. Opened in September 2008 in a
renovated Neoclassical building (1886) on the mainrenovated Neoclassical building (1886) on the main
thoroughfare of the town, it displays the fullthoroughfare of the town, it displays the full
sequence of sericulture (with live silkworms onsequence of sericulture (with live silkworms on
show most of the year).show most of the year).
• It shows the more industrial side of silk manufactureIt shows the more industrial side of silk manufacture
and weaving incorporating fully functionaland weaving incorporating fully functional
machinery and exhibits from the Tsiakiri factory andmachinery and exhibits from the Tsiakiri factory and
videos of the various stages and methods ofvideos of the various stages and methods of
production. It features both live and electronicallyproduction. It features both live and electronically
assisted guided tours (available in severalassisted guided tours (available in several
languages).languages).

7. • This is an old traditional machineThis is an old traditional machine
which was used for silk production..which was used for silk production..
It’s called ‘Argalios’It’s called ‘Argalios’

9. This is a traditional woman’sThis is a traditional woman’s
costumecostume

11. • That’s all for our beautiful town, called
Soufli.. If you have the opportunity to visit
us, you’ll have an unforgettable
memory..
• The end.. 