Greece - Rhodes - Koskinou - Dreamhouse

Rhodes Island – sun, color and contrasts

Rhodes is one of Greece's largest islands and lies in the southeastern Aegean Sea, near the Turkish coast (Marmaris). Because of its southern location, it enjoys a sunny Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm, dry summers. From May to October, it's almost always dry and sunny, with occasional short rain showers. In April, there are occasional rain showers, but the temperature is already pleasantly warm.

Rhodes is easily accessible by plane. There are direct flights from almost all European cities, especially during the summer season. In the winter season, international flights always pass through Athens. Rhodes International Airport (Diagoras Airport) is located approximately 14 km from Rhodes Town and 17 km from Koskinou. Other parts of the island are also easily accessible by car or bus, although bus journeys require a bit of effort to find the timetables.

Koskinou, the location of the BNB

On the east coast, on a hill almost bordering Rhodes town, lies Koskinou – a traditional, colorful village. Known for its brightly painted doors, wrought-iron details, and partially cobbled streets, the center of Koskinou still exudes the atmosphere of yesteryear. Behind the tall walls of whitewashed houses lie courtyards decorated with mosaics, lemon trees, and flowers. The village center is both authentic and exceptionally lively, with small taverns and a village square. Outside the center lies the new village, which is why Koskinou has a large population. Ceramicaza in the Dreamhouse is located with its back on the edge of the new village, but with its front and side entrances, you can step right into the old village through the old doors.

But Koskinou is more than just picturesque, brightly colored houses. Local artisans, including the Kakios family, who are also ancestors of Yiorgos Stavridis (co-owner of the BNB), worked at Ikaros from the 1950s to the 1980s. One of them, Vasilis Kakios, recalled that "his father started baking clay in 1949 and later mixed the colors. For a single shade of blue, they used no fewer than 19 variations, he recounts passionately." That precision and passion are still reflected in the ceramics that adorn Koskinou.

The history of ceramics around Koskinou

During the Italian occupation (1928–1947), the Italian ceramics factory ICARO, spelled with a 'c', was established in Koskinou. They had one goal in mind: to recreate the refined style of Ottoman Iznik pottery from Lindos, which was strongly associated with Rhodes—hence the nickname "Lindian" ceramics. The factory produced everyday items made of earthenware clay—plates, vases, tiles—as well as artistic pieces featuring colorful bouquets, cypress trees, tulips, and even ships, inspired by the Iznik tradition. The deer, the symbol of Rhodes, was especially depicted on the pottery. Every household in Rhodes is proud to own some Ikaros pieces. On Sundays, people proudly display their Ikaros tea sets and plates, and these ceramics are also highly sought after in the antique trade.

After being transferred to a Greek entrepreneur in 1950, the name was changed to IKAROS (written with a 'k' because a 'c' does not exist in the Greek alphabet), while keeping the quality and style intact.

Craftsmen from Koskinou worked at Ikaros, creating a local, living line from workshop to village. In Koskinou, this heritage is reflected in the vibrant facades, terracotta pots, and the "stolisia" in the interiors – a subtle nod to that colorful production history. Every old house also boasts a plate rack, ideally filled with Ikaros plates. This is a large wooden rack where plates can be placed upright, allowing you to clearly see the image.

The factory remained active until 1988, after which it slowly collapsed due to a lack of successors and resources, and because mass production increasingly found its way into households.

A visit to the Koskinou Museum will also be included in the program, where we can admire, among other things, the beautiful ceramic plates and the wonderful work of Ikaros.