Frikes
 The
beautiful small seashore village of Frikes is located on the
east cost of the island, at a distance of 20 km. from Vathy.
There are two routes in which to reach the village, either from
Stavros or through Platrithias, both being approximately 3 km.
away.
The name Frikes either originated from the ancient god Frikon,
or from the pirate Frikon who used the bay as his base.
The area was uninhabited during the Middle Ages due to the
presence of pirates. The settlement was founded after the
16th century by a few people first coming from the village
of Exoghi, and later from Stavros.
They cultivated the small valley and used the bay for fishing.
With the port of Frikes being the closest to the mainland,
the island of Lefkas, and other smaller islands, the Frikians
commuted there and traded often, supplying produce and merchandise
for northern Ithaca.
 The
population always remained restrained and today no more than
100 people live in the village permanently with their main
sources of income being farming, fishing, and tourism during
the summer.
In Frikes there is a modern hotel, a few hostels and many
rooms to let in houses.
It also has taverns, cafe's, shops, and in the summer an outdoor
"Night club" with live music, food and dance.
The small port hosts the fishing boats of the people of
Frikes and the surrounding area. Also in the summer there
is a ferryboat, which leaves Frikes daily for Cefallonia and
Lefkas.
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