Just off the square, this museum brings together traditional pottery, household items, costumes, and furniture gathered from around the Island. Seeing the fascinating collection is all the more satisfying once you begin to witness how many of these collectibles are still part of everyday island life. Many Skyrian homes are museum-like repositories for colorful plates, embroidery, copperware, and carved furniture—a point of pride and a throwback to the days of Byzantine occupation when families made fortunes by trading with pirates, who brought back loot from the lucrative Near East sea lanes. Some older men on the island still wear baggy trousers and black caps, and as you wander along the steep lanes of Skyros Town you'll come upon women in long scarves sitting in doorways bent over embroidery noted for vibrant colors and fanciful flower and bird designs.