The Island of Ikaria is there anything of interest to see ? Never hear much about it! Thanks?

Answer 1

Icaria, also spelled Ikaria (Greek: Ικαρία), locally Nikaria or Nicaria (Νικαριά), previous name: Doliche (Δολίχη), is a Greek island 10 nautical miles (19 km) south-west of Samos. It derived its name from Icarus, the son of Daedalus in Greek mythology, who fell into the sea nearby. It is one of the middle islands of the northern Aegean, 660 km² (255 mi²) in area with 102 miles (160 km) in coastline and a population of about 7,000 inhabitants. The topography is a contrast between verdant slopes and barren steep rocks. The island is mountainous for the most part. It is traversed by Aetheras range, whose highest summit is 1,040 metres. Most of its villages are nestled in the plains near the coast, with only some of them on the mountains. Ikaria has a tradition in the production of strong red wine. Many parts of the island are covered by large bushes, especially ravines, making the landscape lush with green. There are no rare species of fauna on the island. Besides pets, only small goat herds make their presence known, disturbing the serenity of the island with their bells. Ikaria's climate is considered mild.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Landmarks
3 Climate
4 Municipalities
5 Communities and settlements
6 External links



[edit] History
Around 750 B.C.Ikaria has been inhabited since at least 7000 B.C. when it was populated by the Neolithic pre-hellenic people that Greeks called Pelasgians. Greeks from Miletus colonized Ikaria establishing a settlement in the area of present day Campos, which they called Oenoe for its wine.


Agios Kyrikos, the capital of IkariaIn the sixth century B.C. Ikaria was absorbed by Samos and became part of Polycrates' sea empire. At this time the temple of Artemis at Nas, on the northeast corner of the island, was built. Nas was a sacred spot to the pre-Greek inhabitants of the Aegean, and an important port of the island in antiquity, the last stop before testing the dangerous seas around Ikaria. It was an appropriate place for sailors to make sacrifices to Artemis, who, among other functions, was a patron of seafarers. The temple stood in good repair until the middle of the 19th century when it was pillaged by the villagers of Christos, Raches, for marble for their local church. In 1939 it was excavated by the Greek archeologist Leon Politis. During the German and Italian occupation of Ikaria in the Second World War many of the artifacts unearthed by Politis disappeared. Local custom has it that there are still marble statues embedded in the sand off the coast.

In the 14th century A.D. Ikaria became part of a Genoese Aegean empire. At one stage, during this time, the Ikarians actually destroyed their harbours to deter the aggressive visitors. According to local historians, the Ikarians left to their own devices, built seven watchtowers around the coast. As soon as a hostile or unknown sail was seen, the watchers immediately lit a fire and then ran to a cistern that was always filled with water. They pulled out a wooden bung in the bottom, and the water, of course, began to leak out. The garrisons of the other towers had been alerted by the fire to do the same thing at the same time. Inside each cistern in each castle were identical lines, like those on a measuring jar. Each of these calibrations had a different message attached to it: "pirates attacking", "unknown sail approaching", etc. When the water level reached the level of the appropriate message, the senders rebunged the cistern and put out the fire, and everyone in the other towers could read off the size and proximity of the danger.

During this time, the Ikarians seldom built villages. Each house was remote from its neighbour, had only one door and was barricaded behind high walls. A working chimney could be a giveaway, so they endured smoke-filled rooms which were kept bare of lootable belongings. Tradition promises that everyone slept on the floor and hid their belongings in niches in the walls. Men and women wore much the same clothes: woven linen skirts for the women, kilts for the males. This lifestyle is said to have procured longevity and also classlessness. The Knights of St. John, who had their base in Rhodes, exerted some control over Ikaria until 1521 when the Ottoman Empire incorporated Ikaria into its realm. The Ikarians hanged the first Turkish tax collector, but somehow managed to escape punishment.


Flag of the Free State of Ikaria (1912)
George Spanos of EvdilosThe Turks imposed a very loose administration, not sending any officials to Ikaria for several centuries. The best account we have of the island during these years is from the pen of the Bishop J. Georgirnees who in 1677 described the island with 1,000 inhabitants who were the poorest people in the Aegean. In 1827 Ikaria broke away from the Ottoman Empire, but was forced to accept Turkish rule a few years later. It remained part of the Ottoman Empire until July 17, 1912 when the Ikarians expelled a Turkish garrison and thereby achieved independence.

George Spanos (c.1872 - 1912) of Evdilos, killed in a Turkish ambush on July 17, is honored as the hero of the Ikarian Revolution. His bust, depicting him with bandoliers and defiant rifle in hand, may be seen in the National Resistance Square in Evdilos.

On July 18, 1912 the Free State of Ikaria was declared. The neighboring islands of Fournoi Korseon were also liberated and became part of the Free State. Ioannis Malachias was the first and only president of the short-lived nation. For five months, it remained an independent state, with its own armed forces, flag, stamps, and anthem. These five months were difficult times. There were food shortages, the people were without regular transportation and postal service, and they were at risk of becoming part of the Italian Aegean empire. But in November 1912, after a delay due to the Balkan Wars, Ikaria became part of Greece.


Ikarian Revolutionary LeadersThe island suffered tremendous losses in property and lives during the Second World War as the result of the Italian and then German occupation. There are no exact figures on how many people starved, but, in the village of Karavostamo alone, over 100 perished from starvation. The ravages of W.W. II were followed by those of the Greek Civil War (1945-1947), fought between the nationalists and the communists. Subsequently, the Greek government used the island to exile about 13,000 communists. To this date (2006), many (but far from all) of the islanders have remained sympathetic to communism, and, for this reason, Ikaria is referred to by some as the Kokkino Nisi (Greek: Κόκκινο νησί) (Red Island) or the Kokkinos Vrahos (Greek: Κόκκινος Βράχος) (Red Rock). The quality of life improved greatly after 1960 when the Greek government began to invest in the infrastructure of the island to assist in the promotion of tourism.

Despite a difficult history, which during different eras involved defending against pirate attacks, surviving a 400-year Turkish occupation, war, civil war, starvation, and poverty, the spirit of the Ikarians has never been broken, it has survived, overcome, and prevailed. Ikarians exhibit a great pride in their island and a love of family and education. Many Ikarians and their descendants have gone on to great success - whether success is defined as the achievement of wealth or power (both at home and abroad) or as the overcoming of great obstacles to achieve a balanced life. Ikarians pursue not only work but also the pleasure of being with family and friends, enjoying together a cup of coffee or a shot of ouzo accompanied by octopus or kalamari (caught earlier that day from Ikarian waters), a glass (usually more than a glass) of wine and good food, including bread right out of the town baker's oven, fruits and vegetables cut fresh from the gardens, and grapes from the vineyards. Ikarians look forward to the various Saint's days when, in the central square of different towns and villages, they can feast and dance the "Kariotiko" throughout the night to the music of live bands featuring the clarinet, violin and bouzouki. Time, for most Ikarians, is something to enjoy and savor with good company and surrounded by nature and the beauty of the mountains and the Aegean Sea. Time is not something to worry about or be driven by. The word “deadline” is unknown to most Ikarians. One can never be late, because one can never be expected to be anywhere at any given moment in time. To most visitors, this is, at first, disconcerting and often frustrating; later it is liberating. Most people who have been to Ikaria for any length of time do not want to leave, and, when they must, they dream of returning. And whether they are able to return or not, it is often sufficient, wherever they may find themselves, to have experienced Ikaria, to know that it exists, and to know that they can return to it, if only in mind, and free themselves of the concerns and stresses created by the demands of today's fast-moving, modern societies.


[edit] Landmarks
Landmarks include the ancient temple of Artemis at Nas, the statue of Ikarus at Agios Kyrikos, and a number of beautifully constructed ancient churches. The most valuable asset of Ikaria, are the hot mineral springs in the spa town of Therma, healing from arthritis to female infertility, and from gout to rheumatism.They had been known since 2000 BC, and nowadays they are surrounded by modern facilities ideal for a combination of healing and family vacations. These springs are the most radioactive in Europe (containing the non-harmful gaseous Radon).


[edit] Climate
The climate is Mediterranean for most of the island.


[edit] Municipalities
Municipality YPES code Seat (if different) Postal code Area code
Agios Kirykos 4601 833 00 22750-2
Evdilos 4603 833 02 22750-3
Fournoi Korseon 4608 Fournoi 833 01 22750-5
Raches 4607 833 01 22750-4


[edit] Communities and settlements
Agios Polykarpos
Agios Kirykos
Amalo
Arethousa
Armenistis
Chrysostomos
Dafni
Evdilos
Faros
Fournoi Korseon
Frantato
Gialiskari
Kalamos
Karavostamo
Karkinagri
Kouniados
Lagada
Lapsachades
Manganitis
Nanouras
Nas
Panagia
Perdiki
Pezi
Proespera
Raches
Therma Ikarias
Trapalo
Vrakades

[edit] External links
Ikarian Youth Pictures and information about Ikaria and the Ikarian Youth
Guide and community about Ikaria
Big site about Ikaria
The Official Web Page of Ikaria Island
The Official Self - Government Web Page of Ikaria Island
Ikaria guide
Ikaria - photo essays on the archeology of the island
Ikaria guide and pictures
Ikaros International Chess Tournament
http://www.island-ikaria.com/
http://www.pan-icarian.com/
http://www.ikariansea.com/
A website describing the radioactive hot springs on the island



Municipalities of the Samos Prefecture
Agios Kirykos • Evdilos • Fournoi Korseon • Karlovasi • Marathokampos • Pythagoreio • Raches • Vathy/Samos





Coordinates: 37°35′N 26°10′E
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icaria"
Categories: History of Greece | Islands of Greece | North Aegean | Tourism in Greece

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Answer 2

Ikaria is a little island of the Eastern Aegean Sea & the home of the mythical Ikaros. Ikaria is a quiet island and not much is going on. There are two things the native islanders can not avoid. It's a long talks lasting almost the whole night (with a good food and drink of course) and backgammon playing. The way they are taking this game is really fanatic.
There are some virgin beaches on Ikaria. Although some of them are hard to reach (just by sea - swimming or boat), you will never regret visiting them as the sea is so clean and the sun is not to much hot due the mild wind which is common in Greece islands. If you like uncrowded beaches, then take the bus to Faros or Therma with the Roman baths.
Rent a bike and visit one of hundreds little churches spreading all over the island. You may also try and go to one of those tiny villages in the mountains of Ikaria. Raches is a good suggestion, as the landscape is less dry than the rest of Ikaria.
There are also a few arcaeological sites on Ikaria, like the castle of Koskinas, the Drakano fortress (actually an ancient watchtower), the byzantine Odeon and the 6th century BC. temple of Artemis at Nas. There is also a small archaeological museum on the island, as well as a folklore museum.
There are few restaurants in Agios Kyrikos. They are all in the centre of the village, so you cant miss them. An nice wiew to a harbour and the sea and a lot of local children playing their games long after midnight will catch your attention. If I add the delicious food I told you all.
Try all the Greek specialitets: giros, suvlaki, greek salad, see food (fish, kalamari, octopus), dolmadakia. You can also drink some local wine or an imported beer which is not exspensive at all (1,5 €/bottle). And dont forget to try the local ouzo with meze.

Answer 3

Ikaria is a lovely and unique island, Its size is 255 square kilometers with a coastline of 102 km. It is well known as the home of the mythical Ikaros.

There is some ancient sites that you can visit such as the Castle of koskina the drakano fortress the Byzantine odeon of ancient oenoe, the Roman baths the temple of Artemis etc.
Also there is some good museums.

By traveling 1 hour by boat you can step to the island of Samos with allot of sites and interesting places, even a small waterfall.
More info's you can find at the link below.

Answer 4

Manos and PKS have given you the right stuff. The reason you do not hear much about it is simply because it is not a touristy place and it's a bit of a hassle to access it. The Ikaria is well known in Greece because of the notoriously bad weather prevailing in the seas surrounding the island. On average they rank among the worse in the eastern Mediterranean.

Answer 5

Ikaria is aunique island indeed. The south side of the island is windy with pebble beaches mainly. the north side has sandy beaches but there could be swell. there are woods on the mountains and two artificial lakes. the people are easy going and not stressing at all. try to go to a local celebration with local dances.sometimes the party starts at noon and finishes the next day at noon.reasonably priced,good food. people going to bars clubs really late. clubbing after 3-4am. if you are looking for relaxing holidays will love it. recommend the village Rahes on the mountain but just 10 mins drive from the best beaches and the nightlife

Answer 6

Hi,
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It?s true that if you search for computer games you can find all kinds. Some of these are quite appealing, and others aren?t, but you can still find programs that offer special and unique content; like when you used to play on those Sunday afternoons sitting down to the best board games. This is the case with GNU Backgammon, a game that will immediately transport you back to those good times.