Katafigi Cave

On Ikaria’s east side, in the settlement of Xylino near the village of Katafygio, lies the Katafygio Cave, an underground sinkhole of particular historical and folkloric interest. Its entrance is hidden beneath a trap door in the floor of the Church of Saint Nicholas and, according to tradition, it was used as a secret passage during Ottoman rule, allowing residents to escape toward Nymfi cove. The cave has been linked to archaeological finds in the area, and access is only on foot via a path that starts from the nearby dirt road. It is not organized, and visiting is at one’s own risk and by special permit.