Most people know Icaria because of its therapeutic springs where people of a certain age go for a “cure”. No one believes it has anything besides spring but that is a great mistake. All you have to do is go up the winding road above Agios Kirikos and look at the landscape from there and you will immediately understand.
You will see a pretty little village nestled in greenery. The roofs of the houses are all made of slate, like the ones on Pelion but even prettier.
The mountain is covered in wild almost primitive vegetation and as far as the eyes can see before you, is the sea gleaming under the blazing sun.
This is the Icarian sea. The sea into which the mythical Icarus fell and drowned when the sun melted his wax wings.
HISTORY
Icaria owes its name to the mythical Icarus who according to mythology escaped from the Labyrinth of Crete along with his father flying with wings which were attached to his body with wax. Entranced by his flight, Icarus spurned the advice of his father and flew high up towards the sun. The wax wings melted from the heat and he fell into the sea and drowned. Thus, the sea came to be called Icarian sea and the island Icaria.
The Ionians settled on the island around the end of the 9th century BC. Later Icaria became a part of the Athenian Alliance. After a long period of oblivion, at the beginning of the 13th century it was conquered by the Venetians and in 1524 by the Turks. In July 1912, it revolted. Four months later it united with the rest of Greece.
GETTING TO KNOW THE ISLAND
The Area of Agios Kirykos
Agios Kirikos is the capital of the island and its main port. There you can visit the church of Agios Kirikos and the small Archaeological- Folklore museum.
2km. Therma (Loutra). North east of Agios Kirykos is one of the two spas on Icaria with therapeutic springs and a beach. There are the ruins of an ancient acropolis near Therma.
Therma (Loutra) Lefkadas (2km). South west of Agios Kirykos is the second spa on Icaria. There are therapeutic springs and a beach here as well. Near Lefkades is the Monastery of the Evangelismos (The Annunciation)
7km. Mavrato. A pretty verdant village on the slopes of the mountain above Agios Kirykos.
8km. Oxea. Another village like Mavrato, but higher up.
22km. Mileopos. One of the loveliest villages in northern Icaria in a resplendent gorge above the sea, rich in flora.
38km. Evdilos. The former capital of the island is the second most important harbour, with its neoclassical houses. It has a pleasant beach.
40km. Kambos. Here are the ruins of ancient Oinoe and the Archaeological museum. Before the village are the beaches of Fytema and Kambos.
52.5km. Yialiskari. A small seaside settlement. Near is the small island of Diapori with the Church of Assumption. From there stretch out the most glorious sand beaches on Icaria, Mesakti and Livadi.
54.5km. A turn off left leads after 7km to the lovely mountain village of Christostis Raches. The road goes on to Profitis Ilias and Pezi which is at a high elevation and is a natural balcony with a superb view of the sea.
55km. Armenistis. Another little harbour on Icaria at the end of a promontory. From Armenistis a road goes high above the sea and parallel to the coast leading after 3km to the charming Bay of Na. There are ruins of walls there and the Temple of Artemis Tavropolis (“Bull-goddess”)