The northwestern Romanian region of Maramureş is home to many villages where ancient traditions are still part of daily life. The people of this region have preserved rural culture and handicrafts since the time of their ancestors. The villages of the region are distinguished by their unique wooden churches with their towering towers and shaded roofs. More than four-fifths of Maramureş's land area is still forested, and this has long made wood a medium of expression for the region's craftsmen. Elaborate wood carvings adorn the cornices, doorways and windows of homes, and the area is famous for local handicrafts such as hand-woven carpets and the intricate embroidery that adorns dresses. Popular and still worn by locals to this day.