Ecotourism and Architecture in  Ikaria Island

Ikaria lends itself to ecotourism, thanks to its particular geomorphology and the alternations of landscape (abrupt and barren stony ground in the south part of the island, level and full of greenery, with abundant running waters, in the north part). There are 3 caves with flowstones, the biggest of which (Raos tou Foytra) is located in Petropouli.

Of exceptional interest is the Ikarian house architecture, influenced, as it is natural, by three main factors: the available materials, the occupations of its inhabitants and the climate. Another parameter with significant influence on buildings' morphology regarded the need of protection from external dangers (more specifically the raids of pirates). A typical example of the Ikarian house at times of piratocracy, is the "hito" house.

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