Ikarían kätketyt helmet

Hidden Gems of Icaria

Icaria’s lesser-known sites range from the 4th-century BC Drakano Tower, a limestone military outpost, to the foundations of the 6th-century BC Temple of Artemis at Nas. The island’s rugged terrain features the mythical Cave of Dionysus and the 19th-century Papa Lighthouse at the southwestern tip. This selection highlights the archaeological ruins and essential infrastructure like the Pezi dams that define the island’s remote landscape.

Man77 / Public domain

A

Drakano Fortress

Icaria, also spelled Ikaria, is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, 10 nautical miles southwest of Samos.

B

Temple Of Artemis

Foundations of a 6th-century BC sanctuary located at Nas beach. Historically dedicated to the goddess Artemis, the site served as a harbor for ancient sailors.

C

Pyrgos tou Drakanou

A 13-meter-high circular limestone tower dating to the 4th century BC. It served as a military observation post overlooking the sea between Icaria and Samos.

D

Pharos Papa

A stone lighthouse constructed in 1890 at Cape Papas. Standing 11 meters tall, it remains one of the most important navigational aids in the Aegean.

E

Spelaio Dionysou

A seaside cave near Drakano associated with the mythological birth of the god Dionysus, featuring natural stalactite formations.

F

Megalo Phragma

A large artificial reservoir and dam located in the mountainous Pezi region, used for irrigation and local water management.

G

Mikro phragma

A smaller secondary dam and reservoir in the Pezi area, complementing the island's water storage system.