Mythology
The story of Icarus in Greek mythology begins upon the island of Crete. Icarus is the son of Daedalus, a craftsman, who was exiled from Athens. King Minos asked from Daedalus to build a space able to contain the Minotaur (a mythical creature). Dedalous decided that a complex labyrinth would be the best place to hide the monster. The king locked up Daedalus and his family within the walls of his own invention, so that the secret of the existence of a Minotaur would never be revealed. Dedalous made two pairs of wings. Giving one pair to his son, he cautioned him that if he flew too close to the sun, the heat would melt the wax and destroy the wings. Icarus ignored the warning. He climbed high in the sky, the sun melted the wax and Icarus fell into the sea. The area of the sea, where he fell took the name Icarian Sea and a nearby island was named Icaria/Ikaria.
Location
Ikaria is one of the Aegean islands. You can reach the island by ferry from Athens. There is a regular ferry connection between Piraeus port and Ikaria. The trip lasts from 6 to 8 hours.
The island
I have visited the island with my friends two times. First time we went camping, but the second we slept in rented rooms, as the party mood of the island makes free camping at Ikaria difficult.
The island is famous for its festivals, known as "panigiri" in Greek, where locals celebrate the saints and other religious holidays. The celebrations that take place are attended by hundreds of locals and visitors in the surrounding countryside. Ikarian famous dark red wine and traditional food are served. Live traditional music is played by local musicians and people are dancing the traditional dances till night turns into day again.Being at a panigyri in Ikaria makes you think of the ‘Dionysian Mysteries’.
Panigyria are integral part of the Ikarian way of life, as they are a meeting point for people.
I think August is the best month to visit Ikaria, when celebrations are held in every corner of this island.
Beaches of the island
Several beaches are all over the island. also if you want to try surfing, Ikaria is the best spot, as there is one of the most popular surf schools in Greece.
The profile of the island is orientated to those who enjoy simple and traditional facts.