Tinos is a Cyclades island between Andros and Mykonos. For Greeks it is above all the island of Panagia Evangelistria: in 1823, during the War of Independence, an icon of the Annunciation was found here, and the great shrine was built above the port. On 15 August thousands of faithful arrive for the feast of the Dormition, and some cover the road from the port to the church on their knees.
Tinos is also home to marble carvers: Tinian marble craftsmanship has been on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2015. In Pyrgos you can visit the Museum of Marble Crafts and the house of painter and sculptor Giannoulis Chalepas. The island has a strong Catholic presence, a legacy of long Venetian rule (until 1715).
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Panagia shrine | The great white church and its museum of sacred art |
| Pyrgos | Marble village with carved doorways and fountains |
| Dovecotes | Hundreds of towers with geometric decoration scattered through the valleys |
| Volax | Village among huge granite boulders, with basket weavers |
| Kardiani and Isternia | Terraced villages overlooking the sea |
Beaches include Agios Romanos, Kolympithra (windy, loved by surfers) and Livada. Local food is rich: artichokes, cheeses, capers.
Getting there
Ferries from Rafina (2-4 hours) and Piraeus (3-5 hours); Tinos is very close to Mykonos. There is no airport.
See also the Orthodox Church and Andros.