What to do in Ikaria

Ikaria is a magical island in north eastern part of the Aegean sea in Greece. The island got its name from Icarus, the famous son of Daedalos from the ancient Greek Mythology. It's one of the biggest islands in the Aegean sea with numerous blue-flagged beaches and picturesque villages on the mountain or next to the sea.

Ikaria that has two ports; Evdilos and Agios Kirikos, the island’s capital, is one of the biggest islands of the Eastern Aegean Sea. It is considered a mountain-island (the need to protect from medieval pirate attacks made the inhabitants build villages and settlements away from the coastline). It is a green island, with rich geographical variations, many rare species of plants and animals.

In Ikaria you can expect to find pre-historical forests, healing hot springs and lakes, steep rocks and golden sand beaches. The island is famous mostly for the hospitality of its people and their easy-going way of life. All the inhabitants of the island seem to be in perfect peace with the island's pace which is a bit slower that normal. Ikaria has a worldwide record of long living. It's the fifth place worldwide where the population regularly lives to an advanced age (more than 85 years old).

The name of Ikaria hides another mythical story: the Cretan king Minoas ordered the skilled Daedalos, to build him a Labyrinth in Knossos in order to imprison the Minotaur. When Daedalos and his son Icarus were imprisoned as well inside the Labyrinth, they escaped flying away with feather wings glued with wax. Daidalos managed to reach Sicily, but the venturesome Icarus, despite his father’s advices, flew too close to the sun and his wings melted. He fell into the sea that was named after him, as well as the island of Ikaria.

Ikaria, birthplace of the ancient God of wine Dionysus, is famous for it’s strong red wine, referred by Homer as Pramneios Oinos. We don’t know if it is the pure wine or the good quality of local products that makes the inhabitant’ s lives long, but for sure they are the best ingredients for the island’s unique panigiria, the feasts that unite locals and visitors into one big group of friends.