Slate and granite (gray and red) that dominate the landscape, are the raw materials used for the Icarian Buildings. Living on long and narrow slopes with lots of water, the residents would built rooms, next to each other following the terraces – ramps, depending on the household needs. When a second floor was required, they would build the "loft", the landlords’ bedroom. Unplastered, surrounded by vegetation, without any windows, invisible from the sea, distant from each other, the houses preserved the Ikarian life for centuries and created the Ikarian civilisation.

Peculiar, often small, single room, royal churches. In the municipality of Evdilos there are 147 big and small churches. Saint Theoktisti the Lesbian, who lived in Paros, had built her hermitage at the Source. Later on, a monastery functioned there..


As opposed to the rest of the Aegean, there are far more watermills than windmills, to witness the many island sources. Streams are full of fountains and gardens, where "Kalomires", the ancient Nereids and todays’ ferries, show up in the evening. If you run into them during the night, you will lose your voice from their beauty.

On the mountain, kilometric stone wall barriers defined the pastures of free and self sustaining wild goat breeding.

It is possible to admire the best version of traditional Ikarian architecture at the capital, Agios Kirikos. This picturesque colonisation has beautiful neoclassical samples. Magnificent two and three storey houses and mansions stand next to each other, with their colourful facades and narrow surrounding alleys. Roofs are made of slate, in abundance on the island, and their facade has triangular pediments, representative of neoclassical style.

Some Ikarian neighbourhoods are built according to a different typical architectural style, with houses made of pure stone and the typical slate roof.

Chrisostomos village is built using a very unusual architecture. The entire village is made from wood, with flowerful balconies and narrow alleys.