Open the left menu of the icaria. Ikaria Island Useful information about Agios Kirikos
Everything about the island of Ikaria: hotels, entertainment at sea, holidays on the beaches and excursions. Author's photos and videos, reviews of tourists. Location of Ikaria on the map.
Ikaria is the perfect place for a relaxing and relaxing holiday, as it is completely different from the noisy tourist center. Life here flows as if in a different time, slowly and calmly, maybe that's why there are so many centenarians here. This Greek island is part of the Eastern Sporades archipelago and is located in the Aegean Sea.
The island owes its name, according to Greek mythology, to Icarus. He, not listening to his father Daedalus, rose so high on makeshift wings that the sun melted the wax that held the feathers together, and Icarus fell into the sea not far from the coast of this island. The waters near the island, in memory of an ancient event, are called the Icarian Sea. Ikaria has a bright personality and offers the traveler a lot of interesting things. A small island with a population of about 7 thousand people is distinguished by its pristine and diverse nature, stunning beaches and is of great interest to tourists.
Climate of Ikaria
The climate of the island of Ikaria is Mediterranean, as is the case throughout Greece. Summer here is quite hot and dry, the average temperature is + 24-28 C, but the sea breeze softens the heat. Winter is not cold, but rainy, with a temperature of + 5-11 C. The most best time to visit the Greek island is considered the period from March to the end of October.
The city of Agios Kirikos - the capital of the island of Ikaria, attracts tourists with the church of St. Kirikos and the ethnic-historical museum. Two kilometers from the capital there is one of the resorts with healing waters - Therma, which was very popular in the 60s, but today it is a quiet wellness center.
Tourists also fell in love with the town of Armenistis. It is located 51 km from the capital of the island of Agios Kirikos. For lovers of hiking, there are many trails that go through the mountain villages and the coast, you can also go to the mountains - to the Halaris Gorge. Here, nature appears in all its glory: an abundance of rare plant species, mighty plane trees, lakes, streams, small waterfalls, across which the historic stone bridge of Lupastra is thrown. During migrations, many species of birds stop here. This important bio-reserve is protected by Natura.
Below the gorge is a picturesque bay and the village of Nas, for a long time there was a port of paramount importance here, ships hid from pirates here. To this day, only a small part of the ancient port has been preserved here, iron posts stick out, to which ships were tied.
The best view of the island opens up for those who climb Mount Fitro. Its slopes are covered with wild plants, and from the top you can clearly see the capital of the island, the surrounding villages and, of course, the beautiful Icarian Sea. On the slope of the mountain, in the middle of a pine forest, the village of Christ was built. A small village in the traditional Ikarian style with cobbled pedestrian streets, taverns, cafes, shops and houses, many of which were built over a century ago. It is impossible not to notice the impressive Christ Church in the center. A hospitable town that attracts tourists does not sleep even at night. According to an old tradition, which the Icarians remain true to this day, all establishments, without exception, are open all night.
Evdilos - the former capital of Ikaria, the second port of the island, ships from the mainland and other Aegean islands arrive here, taking new tourists. One and a half kilometers from the city is the village of Kambos. This place is known for the ruins of ancient Inoi, the church of St. Irene and the archaeological museum, which houses many finds from all over the island: tools, columns, statues. The museum is open from 10 am to 3 pm, admission is free, but photographing the exhibits is prohibited. In Evdilos, the most fertile lands of the island, where the sacred Dionysian vine was first grown, Pramnia wine is made from it. Once the trade in this wine brought great wealth to the ancient Other.
Langada is one of the old villages of Ikaria, where in ancient times the inhabitants hid from pirates who regularly combed the Aegean Sea for profit. Defensive fortresses, old churches, an ancient prison and the ruins of the administrative building of the Free Community of Ikaria have been preserved here.
Drakano is another ancient town on the island of Ikaria worth visiting. It is famous for its ten-meter tower - an ideal observation point for the sea route between the islands of Ikaria and Samos. The houses are built to withstand the attacks of pirates. The landscape is distinguished by wonderful architectural monuments - natural stone sculptures of various forms. Nearby is the church of St. George, and under it is a secluded beach, which can be reached from the village of Faros along the path, 15 minutes and you are there.
Attractions of the island
The island is interesting for a large number of different types of caves, which are still not fully understood. Research and excavations of the found caves confirm the existence ancient life. Household items and other archaeological finds were found there, the ancient inhabitants performed various rituals in the caves. Each cave is fraught with its own history, a myth that you can learn by visiting them. We recommend several caves to visit: Alama, Drakospilo, Katafigio, Loukaraos, Parafiri, Protari, Spilao, Halaris, there are many others, but we advise you to start your trip with these.
15 km from the city of Evdilos there is a monument of the Byzantine era - the fortress of Koskina, it is impregnable and once helped protect the island from invaders. The fortress is located on the top of the island - Mount Afera, from the observation platforms of which a beautiful view of the picturesque surrounding area opens. This building dates back to the 10th century and is very well preserved. You can see beautiful arched gates and a chapel. On the territory of the fortress there is a small church of St. George.
Block of thematic photos.
3 km from the settlement of Raches, in the middle of a pine forest, you can see the building of the 15th century - the monastery of Munde. This extraordinarily beautiful place amazes absolutely everyone. Waterfowl live in an artificially created lake. The central temple of the monastery is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin, it impresses with hand-carved wooden iconostases, wall icons from the early 20th century and a carved wooden cube "Epitaph".
Of course, the island of Ikaria in Greece is famous for its thermal mineral springs. There are eight of them on the island, all of them are different in water temperature, which can reach + 58 degrees. These are the springs of Askilipiou, Artemidos, Apollonos, St. Chiriku, Kratsa, Spilau Pamphili, Thermo and Khlio-Thermo. According to history healing properties sources were discovered by the historian Herodotus, but the first patients of the healing waters were the ancient Greeks, they called them "Immortal Water". Healing water is used both for bathing and for drinking. The springs help with diseases of the skin, liver, musculoskeletal system, with problems in gynecology, they also help to remove sand and stones from the kidneys, and get rid of cysts.
The beaches of Icaria
The main attraction of Ikaria are, of course, the beaches. Most of them surprise with fantastic virgin beauty. You will have the choice to relax on the equipped beaches or on the "wild" ones, in order to merge even more with the amazing nature of the island. The most famous and popular among the guests of the island and local residents are the beaches: Prioni, Mustafa, Lefkada, Therma, Fanari, Maganiti, Karkinagri, Avlaki, Armenistis, Yaliskari, Livadi and the longest beach Faros. As well as the beaches of Fitema, Agia Paraskevi, Demonopetra, Kambos, Nas, Ormos Nimfi and Kerame. You can not call any beach the best, they are all beautiful in their own way: some - with soft golden sand, others - with smooth pebbles and the clearest sea.
As entertainment, there are sports grounds, taverns, bars and restaurants on the beaches. And for lovers of water extreme sports, you can rent equipment for diving and surfing.
How to get to the island
Probably the only reason why this island is not visited often enough is its remoteness. The island can be reached by plane from Athens airport to Ikaria airport, which is located 10 km from the capital of the island, in the town of Faros. Or by ship from the Athenian ports of Piraea (travel time 10 hours) and Kavala (25 hours) to the ports of Agios Kirikos and Evdilo on the island.
You can move around the island by regular buses or taxis.
In the Aegean Sea, as part of the Eastern Sporades archipelago, there is a small but rather large island called Ikaria. This is a paradise for families and just for those people who want to retire and take some time off from the frantic pace of our time. Ikaria island - the best place for this throughout Greece.
Path to the island
You will be surprised, but for such a great place, there are quite a few tourists on the island. This is all for the reason that Ikaria is a little remote from other resorts and getting to it is not so easy. It is only possible to get by plane to Athens, and from there you can only get to the island by ferry. The ferry schedule is not constant, so check it shortly before the trip. Approximately they go once every two days (if there are no storms), in the summer 6 days a week. Ferry tickets are purchased at the port.
Ikaria on the map of Greece:
Upon arrival, wanting to get to the right hotel, or even just wanting to get to know the island, you can use taxis or buses.
Holidays on the island of Ikaria
The first question that every tourist has upon arrival on vacation is: “Did I choose the right hotel?”. So that this detail does not spoil your impression of Ikaria, it is probably still worth taking a little time and seeing which hotels have the most positive reviews.
So, the top best include the following: Erofili Beach Hotel, Atsachas Rooms & Apartments, Ikaros Star, and Karras Star Hotel. All these hotels combine moderate prices with excellent service. Some even include free breakfast. The proximity to the beaches, the presence of a swimming pool and spacious rooms with a beautiful view from the window immediately attract any tourist.
When the hotel issue is resolved, the first thing you want to do in sunny Greece is to run to the beach. After all, a beach holiday is one of the main reasons why you come here, right? As mentioned earlier, the nature of the island is affected by humans to a minimum, so you will have a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of wild beaches. If you prefer comfort, there are also well-equipped ones, this is not a problem here.
Prioni, Mustafa, Lefkada, Therma, Fanari, Armenistis, Yaliskari, Livadi and the longest - Faros and many more - all these are the charming beaches of the island of Ikaria. All of them are unique and inimitable in their own way, having rested on one, one cannot say that you have perfectly studied them all, because they are so different. Want to soak up the sand? - Please! Or maybe it's better to walk on smooth pebbles? - No problem! And what a clean sea!
In this charming corner of friendly Greece, there are many directions of tourism, and resorts for every taste, you just have to decide what you want. The island of Ikaria will delight you with excellent beach holiday, first-class spa and fascinating history.
You can rent equipment for surfing or diving, or do other water extremes. Any whim for your money, of course, but you will not regret such a busy time.
As for wellness treatments, Ikaria has long been a popular resort because of the thermal mineral springs. There are as many as 8 of them on the island and each has its own water temperature. If you suffer from diseases musculoskeletal system, liver, skin, kidneys or in the field of gynecology, then you should take special baths. It is clear that one procedure will be of little use, but if you correctly calculate everything, then improvements will not be long in coming.
There are also plenty of historical monuments on the island: ancient acropolises, and all kinds of monasteries, archaeological museums. And, how can one not remember about the defender-fortress called Koskina. You can either book a tour or go on your own to study the history of this area.
On the way to the famous sights of Ikaria, be sure to look out for the enchanting landscapes. Nature on the island of Ikaria can bewitch and it is a great crime not to pay attention to it, and even worse - not to appreciate it at all. And the pine forest, and the lake, and Mount Afer - all these are places that you must see. Otherwise it can not be!
In general, the Greek island of Ikaria, washed by the Aegean Sea, is a great place for couples and for people craving a quiet and relaxing holiday. And there is something to visit, and where to heal, and you can choose which coast to sunbathe. Hotels with excellent service, well-equipped or completely wild beaches, interesting excursions - three components of an excellent vacation are certainly present when mentioning Ikaria.
Ikaria is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, located just 19 kilometers southwest of. The island got its name thanks to the mythical Icarus, who fled with his father - Daedalus - from Crete on homemade wings. Without going into the details of the myth, we only note that Icarus turned out to be unimportant as a flyer, crashing into the sea exactly not far from the coast. Since then, the island itself has been called Ikaria, and the sea around it - Ikarian.
Icaria is famous as a great holiday destination due to its favorable climate, delicious food, variety of beaches and good-natured disposition of the locals. Among the Greeks themselves, the island is known for its healing springs and is especially popular among those tourists who want to combine relaxation with hydrotherapy.
How to get there
The island is connected by ferry to Athens (), Samos, Chios and the Cyclades. Getting to Ikaria from Athens by ferry in the summer is not difficult. In winter, navigation also exists, but it largely depends on weather conditions. Familiarize yourself with the schedule of routes and. Also on the link you can see the schedule of other ferries passing through the island. If you did not have the experience of buying tickets for ferries, we also recommend how to do it.
Ikaria is great for those who want to combine relaxation with "hydrotherapy"
You can also get to the island by air. Ikaria is connected to the Greek capital by regular Olympic Air flights, which continue to operate even during the low season. During the summer months, the local airport also receives charter flights from a number of European cities. The airport is located 12 km from the town of Agios Kirikos.
Climate and weather
Like other islands in the Northeast Aegean, Ikaria is known for its Mediterranean climate. Through the winds that blow all year round, even during the peak season the temperature rarely rises above 29C.
Winter on the island is short and mild, however, with abundant rainfall. The hottest months are July and August average temperature about 27C. Already at the end of April, it is often quite possible to open the swimming season, which, as a rule, lasts until the end of October.
Things to do
On the waterfront of Agios Kirikos, you can see the wings of Icarus - the same mythical hero, after whom the island is named.
The ancient temple of Artemis is located 50 kilometers from the capital of the island, which is very worth a visit. The temple was built in the VI century BC. According to historians, the main statue of the temple - the goddess Artemis - was hidden somewhere in the waters of a nearby river, so if you have the spirit of Indiana Jones - you can even try to find it. However, even if you do not find the statue, you will definitely find the remains of ancient columns in the river.
Koskina Fortress is the most famous fortification on the island. It is located near the town of Evdilos and offers an impressive view of the surroundings. The fortress was founded by the Byzantines in the 11th century, and they, as you know, were masters of choosing the right places for such structures.
Beaches
If the purpose of your trip is secluded beaches, then Ikaria is 100% suitable for this. Fles Beach is located 38 km from Agios Kirykos and can be considered an ideal destination if you want to retire with your loved one. A closer analog might be Miliopó, but it's so secluded that it's rarely even mapped. Armenistis is located a little further, but more ennobled by civilization.
If you prefer more crowded places with bars and taverns, then you should pay attention to Kambos and Messakti. The latter, however, is located 52 km from Agios Kirikos. Prioni beach can be a good choice for divers.
Not far from Samos in the Aegean Sea is a Greek island of Ikaria, named after the famous hero of ancient Greek myths - Icarus.
Like the rest of the islands of the Aegean, Ikaria ideal for spending your holidays on it and getting a great boost of energy. The wonderful climate, variety of beaches, delicious Greek cuisine and the hospitality of the locals will make your holiday unforgettable. And if you visit healing springs, then also strengthen your health.
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A bit of history
Icarus, son Daedalus, fleeing from the angry King Minos on wings fastened with wax, disobeyed the instructions of his father and rose too high to the sun. The wax on the wings melted, and Icarus fell into the sea. The body of the deceased Icarus was found by Hercules and buried on the island of Doliha, later renamed Ikaria.
How to get to Ikaria
Ikaria Island connected by ferry to the mainland, to the islands, Chios and the islands of the Cyclades archipelago. In any of the ports you can easily buy ferry tickets even in winter. But in winter, weather conditions should be taken into account: in a strong storm, navigation is not carried out.
Ikaria weather
Climate in Ikaria, as well as on other islands of the Aegean Sea, pronounced Mediterranean. Constant winds do not allow the temperature to rise above 30C. The hottest months are July and August. The swimming season can open at the end of April and close at the end of October.
Attractions
- Wings of Icarus on the promenade of Agios Kirikos
- Temple of Artemis VI century BC 50 kilometers from Agios Kirkyros
- near Evdilos, built by the Byzantines in the 11th century
Ikaria (Ικαρία or Nikaria) is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, which is part of the Eastern Sporades archipelago. The island is located west of Samos, north of Patmos, and has an oblong shape, due to which in ancient times it was called Makris or Dolihi (Long).
Another ancient name of the island is Ihthyoessa (Fish), obtained thanks to the always rich catch.
It is believed that the modern name of the island was given by the name of Icarus, the son of Daedalus, who died at sea near the nearby island of Samos. The waters south of the island, in memory of this event, have been called the Icarian Sea since ancient times.
People have lived in Ikaria since the Neolithic period. Ikaria is considered one of the five "blue zones" of the world - places where people live unusually long. According to a study conducted at the University of Athens, Icarians live up to 90 years of age 2.5 times more often than Europeans.
In addition, residents of Ikaria are much healthier than older people from other parts of the world, they are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other serious age-related diseases.
Since ancient times, Ikaria has been known as a health resort, mainly because of its radioactive hot springs, which were believed to reduce pain, heal joints and skin diseases. But for most of the next two millennia, the islands were raided by pirates. To avoid looting, the Icarians moved their villages high up on the rocky slopes.
Their isolation led to the emergence of a unique way of life. Over the centuries, without external influences, the islanders have developed their own outlook on life, based, among other things, on relentless optimism and a penchant for parties, both of which are good stress-reducing qualities. In addition, Icarians like to go to bed well after midnight. They do not need a lot of money, and they work a little and more for pleasure.
All Icarians have gardens where they grow their own fresh, high-quality, pesticide-free vegetables, and they also make olive oil. They eat little meat and mostly on holidays, and usually drink herbal tea rich in antioxidants - an excellent diuretic, in addition to lowering blood pressure. Ikarians eat honey every day, and they consume little refined sugar and flour.
The social structure of the island also contributes to longevity. In most countries of the world, people are completely unfamiliar with their own neighbors - they can only exchange a few words in the morning before work. In Ikaria, in the evenings, it is customary to visit friends with a jug of wine. Friends here are friends for life. In addition, to visit a friend, you have to walk through the mountains, which is associated with considerable physical exertion.
One 101-year-old woman from Ikaria, when asked by what miracle they live so long, replied: “Yes, we just forget to die.”
The best beaches
This island has its own "wild" beauty: a large number of greenery, high mountains, rivers, ravines, and most importantly - its wonderful beaches! There are a great many of them, to name just a few of them: Armenistis, Demonopetra, Kambos, Livadi, Nas, Ormos Nimfi, Prioni, Terma, Kerame, Pharos and Seychelles ... one of the most wonderful beaches of Ikaria.
caves
The island has a large number different kind caves, and many inhabitants of the island do not even know about their existence. In many of them, traces of some ancient rituals and archaeological finds were found. Each of these caves has its own history, its own myth, which we wish you to know by visiting there. These are such caves as Katafigio (the village of Katafigi, located at the foot of the church of St. Nicholas), Protari (the village of Glaredo), Halaris (in the village of Chrysostomo), Spilao (in Faros), Drakospilo (in Perdiki), Parafiri (in Chrysostomo), Loukaraos (in Drutsula), Alama (in Akamatra) and many others.
Healing water sources
The history of healing springs is closely connected with the history of the area. The ancient Greeks were the first to use medicinal waters, as were the ancient Greek physicians, historians, physicists, geographers who gave meaning and great importance mineral waters. The first to discover their existence was the historian Herodotus, who later described a large number of such natural sources.
Ikaria is one of the 17 most important natural sources of healing waters in Greece. There are 8 such springs, which differ in water temperature. These are such sources as Thermo and Khlio-Thermo, Asquilipiou, St. Chiriku, Spilau Pamphili, Kratsa, Artemidos and Apollonos.
" Immortal water" - this is the name of one of the sources, the waters of which help to get rid of stones and sand in the kidneys and cysts.
