The island

Tinos is part of the Cycladic archipelago, and is located between Andros to the north, Mykonos and Delos (UNESCO protected, archaeological heritage site) to the south-east and Siros to the south-west.                                                                                                Known since ancient times for its precious green marble and the still very lively art of sculpture, it has about 8.500 permanent inhabitants, distributed mainly in the "CHORA" (Port of Tinos) in the south and PYRGOS in the north, but also in about 60 villages located throughout the territory. One of the characteristics of the island is precisely the surprisingly large number of villages, each one with its particularities to be discovered, as for example the coexistence of 2 churches to represent the peaceful cohabiting of Orthodox and Catholics.                                                                                                                                                                                    Many beautiful beaches along the coastal perimeter, allow you to go swimming even in the days of the typical Cycladic wind.      Lovers of sports in nature can take advantage of a remarkable mapping of many marked paths, rock faces for free climbing, surfing or diving.                                                                                                                                                                              The rich rural architecture that characterizes Tinos, finds its maximum expression in the hundreds of PERISTERIONES (literally DOVE COATS) scattered throughout the island, standing as a most relevant status symbol of the Tinian families and in the hundreds of kilometers of stone walls integrated with the KELLIA, small "cells" masterfully built by the stone masters. The walls were used to smoothly terrace the tuff ground in order to be able to cultivate and to protect from the wind and safely move the flocks, donkeys and various animals. Which then, at the end of the day together with the shepherd/farmer, found shelter right in the "cell". At the top of the hills you can still see the windmills, while some watermills are still hidden in the valleys. All of that, along with hundreds of ALONI , a stone built circular threshing field,  testify to the intense agricultural past of the island.                           Homeland of many important artists and writers, Tinos continues to have a remarkable cultural activity and its renowned culinary and pastry tradition continues and is constantly renewed.                                                                                                                              The island, from early 19th century, is probably the most important religious pilgrimage destination of Greek Orthodoxy, due to the Shrine of the Virgin "MEGALOCHARI" which is located right in the "CHORA" - port of Tinos.          

sunset  at  Kolimpithra...