TINOS: TOUR GUIDE

SIGHTSEEING

Know Tinos with your own eyes! Go on a tour through villages forgotten by time, untouched beaches with crystal clear waters and natural Cycladic beauties from every corner of the island.

Find out where you will go out, eat something and what else to do on the island.

Get out of Town and take a trip to see the "other Tinos". So starts the magic journey in a place full of secrets that await to be discovered.

TOUR

THE VILLAGES

The villages of Tinos are of particular interest. A walk through their streets will leave you speechless! They keep the authentic elements of the Cyclades and are no artificial tourist sights. Time has stopped there and you will be able to meet the real Cyclades there, full of light, blue, colours and sun. Hospitality in the villages of Tinos is an experience you MUST live. You will meet the real people of Tinos there, who will welcome you with a big smile and open their simple homes and hearts to you. Go near them, ask them, greet them. They will return it to you!

AGAPI

One of the island's oldest villages with particularly beautiful architecture. Paved narrow streets, stunning arches, traditional houses with lintels of unique beauty and the traditional well with the laundry bowls, which is a monument of the village.

It is worth visiting the church of Aghios Agapitos and the area Griza with running waters and the verdurous gully with the dovecots. The village also has a traditional little tavern.

AETOFOLIA

It is the last village of Kato Meria. For many years it has been one of the centres of ceramics of the Cyclades. Today there is an effort to revive this art and a museum of traditional ceramics will open in the village.

Aetofolia has one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the area "Kannava". A little further, we meet the medieval settlement "Tis Koris o Pyrgos" (The Girl's Tower). Myth has it that here lived Persefoni, the daughter of goddess Dimitra. Others say that here was the Tower of a queen in exile weaving in her loom, while her servant goldsmiths made the golden sow and the twelve pigs that, according to the myth, will be found by a young daughter who will be born in this area.

Sites of natural or historical interest are Kammeni Spilia, Ellinikaria and Tou Polemou o Kampos.

ARNADOS

A picturesque village on the slopes of mount Kechrovouni, close to the monastery of Aghia Pelagia, which is 7km away from the Town of Tinos.

It is renowned for its magnificent arches of the medieval era and the paved streets under these. In the great square you can see the impressing church of the Ascension of Christ of 16th century architecture.

VENARDADOS

A village that gave birth to many artists. The most important of them is the renowned painter Nik. Gaitis.

VOLAX

A unique landscape in the world in regards to its ground form. Scattered round rocks (!) like thrown lumps on barren ground constitute a unique moonscape, unusual for the visitor.

Among the rocks lie white houses that constitute a view of unfamiliar architecture. In the village, there is a summer stone theatre where cultural events are organized in the summer.

The residents' main occupation is basketry, an old art that is worth seeing on site.

If you want to relax, the village has a coffee shop, as well as very nice taverns serving local specialties.

DYO CHORIA

Together with "Triantaros" and "Bedremiaros" they are considered the balconies of Tinos in terms of view.

It is considered a traditional village of particular beauty, whose history begins in the medieval times. Its name comes from two close settlements that were connected in the process and formed a beautiful village.

It is built on a verdurous and fertile slope, due to the running waters, 450m above sea level and 7 km from the Town of Tinos. It is worth walking through its narrow streets and admire the nature in combination with its simple Cycladic architecture, its narrow paved paths and its picturesque arches of the medieval era.

From its great square with the platans and other trees you can see in the horizon a series of Cycladic islands scattered in the sea of central Aegean.

KALLONI

A verdurous village at the edge of the grassland of Komi. On its entrance a monument has been built for those who have fallen in battle for the country.

Its church is a remarkable three-aisle basilica that honours the name of St. Zacharias and is surrounded by a wonderful yard of pebbles.

In this traditional village with the streets fragrant with the housewives' flowers, there is a carpet manufacturing school, small taverns and coffee shops.

To Kalloni belongs also the old male monastery "I Aghia Ypakoi" with monk cells. From this comes the old name of the village "Kelia" (Cells).

KAMPOS

It lies in the centre of Tinos with view to the hill of Exombourgo and the valley of Komi and Kalloni.

The visitor can admire the village's traditional beauty, its architecture, cleanliness and the lust of its inhabitants to keep it this way. The village's traditional washhouse is kept until today.

It is trying crackers and bread from the village's bakery. Finally, you can eat at the tavern - coffee house at the centre of the village.

KARDIANI

On of the most beautiful villages of Tinos that you shouldn't miss. It lies 16 km from Town and is the first village of Exo Meria.

Situated on the slope of mount "Pateles" with a very nice view towards the sea. Verdurous, with flowing waters, high platens, beautiful two storey houses with picturesque staircases, flowery yards, limy paved streets, arches, it will certainly impress you.

3 great churches stand out: At the edge of the village, Aghia Triada, at the centre Koimisi tis Theotokou (Holy Mary's Assumption) and at the other edge Kioura, in the foundations of which lies a refreshing spring.

KARKADOS

This village looks like the natural sequence of Kalloni. It is worth admiring the church of Sotiras, an old church, whose campanile impresses for its great inclination. Visitor call it a "Small Pisa".

KARYA

A beautiful village, sparsely populated, that used to accommodate the country houses of well-off citizens of the Town. Among eucalypts and pomegranates, you will find residences of particular beauty, with history starting from the Byzantine era.

It is worth visiting its museum of popular art, but also enjoy the magnificent view of the Aegean.

KATO KLEISMA

A picturesque agricultural village with ruins from two old olive presses. There are also many dovecots in the area with unique designs, also samples of the island's architecture. This is the point where the grassland of Komi - Kalloni starts with its many waters, reeds and endless green.

KECHROS

A small picturesque village where in older times the craft of "stratourades" (saddle manufacturers) was flourishing. Today you will find a tidy village with clean paved streets, offering the traditional Greek hospitality to passers-by.

KOUMAROS

The picturesque village of Koumaros, rooted in the North side of Exombourgo. One of the oldest villages that keeps the Cycladic colours.

The festival of Sotiras and Evaggelistria on August 22nd will be unforgettable to you.

KROKOS

A small village, full of green and flowers. It owes its name to the plant "krokos" (crocus). Home doctor and philosopher Markakis Zalonis.

Today local specialties and meat are served in its picturesque taverns.

KTIKADOS

A traditional village with magnificent view towards the sea, with arches and paved streets, limy roads and great houses decorated with marble lintels.

The village has two churches: At the village's entrance lies the church of Timios Stavros with the remarkable campanile. A little closer to the centre is the church of Megalomata with the lovely marble entrance.

The old fountain with the stone laundry bowls completes the village's beauty and picturesqueness.

The village's festivals are on September 14th, the Elevation of the Holy Cross, and on February 2nd, the Hypapante. The village also has traditional taverns.

KOMI

A beautiful village, verdurous, built over "Lazarou Perastras" river.

Komi's Cathedral is the church of St. John, a very old church with a remarkable icon of the Italian painter Gagliardi. In Mesa Komi a marble inscription of the classical period, as well as part of a Byzantine inscription survive.

Komi has a winery with tasty and good wine. It is worth buying fresh vegetables, fruit and lemons from Komi, which are produced all year long in its Grassland.

A tasteful surprise is the village's tavern - pizzeria.

LOUTRA

A small picturesque village with great history, since the Jesuits and the Ursuline sisters had built their monasteries here. The school of the Ursulines had a primary school, junior high and high school and a boarding house and until recently a carpet manufacturing school.

In ancient times, renowned baths used to be on the village's boundaries. In Loutra one can admire the two monasteries where small museums operate and the church of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Order of the Jesuits.

The village's well provides enough water and the orchards all sorts of fruit, all year long.

MAMADOS - MARLAS

One of the island's last villages, on its NW part, known for its green marble quarries, as well as its marble craftsmen.

Continuing from the village, you will reach the uninhabited village Ismail, from which sratrs the road that leads to the Tinos - Andros straits and the coastal settlements Kmela - Mali.

MESI

The small village Mesi lies on a crossroad between Town - Falatado & Steni - Kato Meri called "Pentostrato".

The church of the Taxiarchs, its paved streets, its renovated fountain and old two storey houses are some of the sights that the visitor can admire.

Just outside Mesi lies the old monastery of St. Francis, which also has a popular art museum.

MONASTIRI

The imposing and at the same time humble monastery of Kyria ton Aggelon (St. Pelagia) was built around the tenth century. It touches the visitor with its story, but also with the devoutness that the area inspires.

Here, in 1822, sister St. Pelagia has a vision of Megalochari (Virgin Mary) who revealed her the site to find Her Holy icon. It is worth visiting the cell of St. Pelagia, the church with its wooden carved temple, Panagia Katogiotissa and other sites.

The site should be respected, so visitors are suggested to wear simple and humble clothes.

MONASTIRIA

An abandoned village, forgotten by its inhabitants, left to the wear of time. Here, one can visit the ruins of houses, the church of St. Josef and admire Kato Meri and Livadi from high.

MOUNTADOS

Mountados is a traditional settlement that dates 1000 years back (!). It used to be quite developed in terms of arts and letters. One of Tinos' few villages with a school.

It is the village of the Paximadis family, members of the Filiki Etaireia (Revolutionary Society of Friends) during the Revolution, as well as of important artists like Lampakis and Platis.

Today it is a picturesque village 4 km outside Tinos with hospitable inhabitants that impresses with its clean paved streets and its traditional houses.

MYRSINI

One of Tinos's old villages. It has a beautiful three-aisle church of fine architecture.

From Myrsini, you can go up to Tsiknias (the mount of Aeolos) or go down to Livada beach.

XYNARA

A 19th century village at the feet of Exombourgo. Seat of the catholic diocese of Tinos during the Byzantine times and the catholic archdiocese until today.

It was a cultural, educational and small industrial centre. Its small industries served the whole island: blacksmiths, shoemakers, a notary and a silver and goldsmith.

Two churches are representative of the architecture of Tinos: Panagia of Rodario 1860 - 1870 (Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese) and Apostles Peter and Paul of 1836.

This settlement is the seat of the Municipality of Exombourgo. The "Palati tou Despoti" (the Bishop's palace), the great building of the past century where the seminary was housed, houses today the "Centre Faith and Culture", with a museum of church relics, the record of catholic parishes (the oldest record in Tinos) and a radio station.

Its ground flour houses the Town Hall of the Municipality of Exombourgo.

PANORMOS

It is the seaport of Pyrgos and one of the most beautiful destinations in Tinos. Ideal location with smooth traffic.

It has a beautiful traditional little port with quality taverns all along. It is an ideal place to eat or even have a drink or coffee with view to the North side sea and the beautiful small island "Planitis".

Since, however, it is very close to the beaches Rochari and Ag. Thalassa, you can plan your little excursion first to swim and then to eat.

Quality in taverns is almost equally high. However prices range a lot. So, make sure you carefully select by seeing more than one price lists and asking for availability of what is contained in these before you sit.

PERASTRA

It was named so because of the fact that it was an important passage in the past. Verdurous, built on both sides of the homonym river. You will find beautiful old stone bridges, nice fountains, ruins of olive presses and watermills.

POTAMIA

A picturesque village with view to the sea, Myconos and Dilos. It is built at the meeting point of streams "Xinari", "Gourouni" and "Akeratou". Its running waters used to move the area's 4-5 watermills.

The village's church honours the Virgin Mary. Exactly below the village there is access to the beaches Santa Margarita and Lychnaftia.

PYRGOS

It is the largest village in Tinos after the Town. Most people distinguish it from the other villages of the island, perhaps not unjustly. It is not only considered VERY beautiful, but also an outdoor museum of popular art, which keeps unaltered the traditional Cycladic architecture.

Filled with marvellous creations based on marble that give a sense of nobility, artistry and the unquenchable thirst of man for inspiration.

Indeed, wherever the visitor might go in Pyrgos (House & Museum of G. Chalepas - N. Lytras, Museum of Panormite Artists, Cemetary of Pyrgos, School of Fine Arts of Pyrgos) he will only admire creations that make you wonder on the abilities of these people that give life to a cold piece ofmarble.

At the end of your trip, don't forget to rest at the village's square and have traditional coffee and have real home made galaktoboureko (a delicious pastry with syrup and cream) under its beautiful perennial platens.

SKALADOS

It constitutes the connection between the two informal parts of the island (Ano Meria and Kato Meria). Here was born the modern actress Anna Fonsou and the catholic priest and poet Nikolaos Perpinianis.

Skalados is a developing village, white with paved streets, two taverns - coffee shops and an old primary school, which has been converted to a space for cultural events in summer.

SKLAVOCHORIO

A small but important village for Tinos. Here Nikolaos Gyzis was born, one of the greatest modern Greek painters with a bright career in Munich who left a rich cultural heritage not only to Tinos, but to the whole of Greece.

SMARDAKITO

This village is built on the SE side of mount "Raches" with view to a lot of villages of Kato Meri and Exombourgo.

A most picturesque village with paved streets and two storey houses, decorated with lintels and tidy yards.

Its church is St. Antony with a tall tower-like campanile. In its front there is a large paved square with the traditional wash house and running water from the old fountain.

If you are looking for traditional tastes, the tavern - coffee house of the village is known in Tinos for its delicacies.

SPERADOS

Sperados is a settlement right next to Tripotamos (see TRIPOTAMOS).

STENI

A large village built to the west of the hightest mountain on Tinos, Tsiknias.

In this village the shoemaker industry used to flourish in old times. Today there is a carpet manufacturing school of the Hellenic Organization of SME's and Handicraft. The churches of St. Nicolas and St. Anthony are remarkable monuments.

The village has taverns, coffee shops, cafeterias and bars. One can visit from here Tsiknias, Faneromeni and the beach of Santa Margarita.

TARABADOS

A village of the 17th century, Its characteristic feature are its many arches. Its houses are built on both sides of the main road.

in Trabados, 11 dovecots have been renovated in the green of the village's stream, which are accessible due to the well maintained paths.

TZADOS

A very small village on the edge of the plateau of Leivadia, over Karya. It has a great view of the Town of Tinos and the sea.

TRIANTAROS

Together with "Dyo-Choria" they are considered the balconies of Tinos in terms of view. This one, though, is renowned for its excellent stone craftsmen.

Its clearly traditional architecture, the beauty of the landscape and the surrounding area have attracted many foreigners as permanent inhabitants.

TRIPOTAMOS

Tripotamos is built between three rivers - valleys at the feet of Exombourgo.

One of the oldest villages of the island, with beautiful arches, staircases, galleries, paved streets that lead from one neighbourhood to the other.

Over the village and on the slope of Exombourgo lies the Sanctuary of Dimitra, where a large series of big relief jars was found that now are in the archaeological museum of Tinos.

In Tripotamos the custom of "Kavos" is celebrated at Christmas, with elements from the early Christian and medieval era and Mount Athos.

Near Tripotamos is the island's unique industry, the cheese factory, that produces original dairy products. Here one can visit the island's only working pottery factory.

YSTERNIA

A picturesque village, situated on "Meroviglia" on the west part of the island, 20 km from the Town of Tinos. It is decorated with marble paved streets, arches and two storey houses with marble lintels and beautiful yards. The village has a magnificent view towards Syros.

It is a real balcony to the Aegean.

The people of Ysternia work as marble craftsmen. Every house is a sample of their lust for good taste. Besides, Ysternia is home of many creators like: G. Vitalis, I. Vitalis, L. Lameras, Fytalis Bros and L. Sochos.

The most impressive landscape is met at the location Myloi (mills), were the ruins of many windmills are preserved as witnesses of glory, but also decadence, and have been characterized as landmarks.

Enjoy the terrific view to the sea while having lunch in one of the village's traditional taverns.

FALATADOS

It is one of the largest villages of Tinos and dates back to the 1400s. It is the village where Dim. Vlassis was born, the worker that saw for the first time the miraculous icon of Panagia of Tinos in 1823.

in this village one can admire the imposing church of Ag. Triada, a basilica, that lies in its centre. You can also visit the private collection of popular art and the church museum, have lunch in its taverns, rent a room and go around in the countryside: Voliana, Kakia Skala and Livada.

CHATZIRADOS

A small picturesque village near Ktikados. It also has the characteristically paved streets, the white houses and flowery yards. It has a view to the sea and is adorned by the church of Ag. Triada.

For the visitors that would like to taste local delicacies, there is a tavern.

THE BEACHES

The beaches of Tinos are the best guarantee for your summer holidays. No one can imagine the richness that hides in the beaches of this island. All wonderful, some organized and some steep. More than 25 tourist beaches, most of them with awards, distinguished both for the cleanliness of their waters, as well as their variety. You will definitely find the one of your dreams.

Until now we have gathered and present to you the 18 ones that are the most important.

AG. KYRIAKI

It is the ideal beach for those who like spacious places. An extraordinary beach, shaded by the umbrellas of a nearby hotel. You should, however, take into consideration that it is fairly exposed to Northern winds.

You can eat very near at the hotel or a little further in beautiful picturesque taverns.

AG. PETROS

A particularly quiet beach with fine white sand and crystal clear waters. On a rock lies the chapel of St. Peter.

You should take into consideration that the beach is not particularly protected from the wind. You should also not forget to take with you some water, an umbrella and something to eat.

AG. ROMANOS

This beach is only a few minutes from Town. It is a mixed one (pebbles and sand) and has particularly clean waters.

AG. SOSTIS

One of the most beautiful beaches, opposite of Myconos. You will find plenty of shade from the trees, a very clean sea, regular sand, but also a picturesque pier to dive from. It belongs to the beaches that are relatively protected from the strong Northern winds.

You will find something to eat, either a snack or lunch, in a relatively short distance.

Given the fact that it is a very long beach, you can jog or just walk until Skylantari beach. This particular one is distinguished for the cleanliness of its waters, although it is more exposed to Northern winds.

AG. FOKAS

The largest and most organized beach of Tinos, although relatively exposed to Northern winds. It is situated close to the Town, however the further you go away, the wider it gets to become a huge beach with rich sand and shade from the trees.

Along its back you will find a lot of tourist stores to cover any desire or taste.

DIALISKARI

A very beautiful beach, isolated and relatively protected from winds, just after Kionia bay. The road doesn't go all the way down. You will have to walk a few meters on the dirt road that leads to the beach.

The destination will reward you. The beach is spacious, very clean, with fine sand and shade from the trees in some points. There are no stores nearby, so don't forget to bring water with you.

KALYVIA

Even if the Northern winds become a problem, this particular beach is considered the absolute shelter. It is situated about 13 km from the Town of Tinos, on the road to Ysternia and just before Yannaki Bay. You will find a quite quiet and clean beach, protected from winds, to enjoy a swim.

KIONIA

Just 2 km from the Town of Tinos, you will find perhaps the most cosmopolitan beach on the island. View to Syros, protected from winds and fairly organized, with umbrellas, as well as a variety of restaurants, taverns, bars and cafes behind the beach.

KOLYMPITHRA

One of the most renowned and cosmopolitan beaches on the island, about 18 km from the Town of Tinos.

It is actually composed by two beaches. The smaller is more cosmopolitan, organized with deck chairs, umbrellas, showers, toilets and even a beach volley court.

The larger is more isolated and more exposed to Northern winds. If you get past the rocks, you will even find a small pond with ducks and turtles.

You can eat in a beautiful picturesque tavern at the small beach's bay or a little higher, with view to Drakonisi and the endless Aegean.

LEIVADA

It is a very beautiful, picturesque and quiet beach with fine gravel and view of the northern part of the island.

A few meters before the beach you will find a beautiful pond with ducks, while a little higher on the mountain before the beach there is a picturesque little tavern with very nice traditional cuisine.

Its unique characteristic are the shapes from the rocks on the left side of the beach. It is worth admiring these from near.

LYCHNAFTIA

At a 5 km distance from the Town of Tinos, you will find a small isolated beach, which you can access very easily by car. however, if you chose it, don't forget to bring water and food, since there are no taverns and bars nearby.

YANNAKI BAY

At a 7 km distance from the Town of Tinos, exactly below the magnificent village Kardiani, you will se one of the island's most picturesque beaches, particularly idyllic during the afternoon. It belongs to the beaches that are protected from the wind with fine gravel.

You can eat by the waves or a little higher with view to the Aegean.

YSTERNIA BAY

The right choice for those who love an idyllic environment.

About 15 km from the town of Tinos, you will meet a beautiful small port, after which you will find small beaches along the shore, protected from the Northern winds, with pebbles and very clean waters.

In the port you will find taverns that serve nice food.

PACHIA AMMOS

one of the most isolated and exotic beaches of Tinos, about 10 km from Town.

It is actually a large sand hill that leads to a very beautiful and exotic beach with crystal clear and clean waters.

Although the road is rough and the region arid, the destination will definitely reward you.

PORTO

At an 8 km distance from the Town of Tinos you will encounter a beautiful beach with regular sand, protected from the Northern winds, with waters that don't get too deep too fast. You will also find plenty of shade from the trees, while umbrellas and deck chairs are leased from the bar nearby.

The bar also serves cocktails, snacks and pizza. Near the beach, there is also the tavern of a nearby hotel.

ROCHARI

Exceptional beach, relatively cosmopolitan, with regular sand and view to the Northern Aegean.

It is organized with deck chairs and plenty of shade from the trees. You can also have a snack at the canteen nearby or have a drink at the beach bar. If you decide to find somewhere near to eat, the wonderful Panormos is very close with very interesting tastes from quality taverns in a magnificent environment.

STAVROS

Just after the Town of Tinos, before you reach Kionia, you will find a characteristically quiet beach protected from the winds.

It has plenty of shade from the trees and exactly behind the beach road you will find a great variety of restaurants, taverns, bars and cafes.

IDENTITY

Discover the island's identity. Where it is, its climate, local phenomena, what it produces from local cuisine to agricultural production.

General

Tinos is the third largest island of the Cyclades after Andros and Naxos. It belongs to the northern Cyclades and is known around the world as the holy island of Megalochari. It has a population of about 10,000 and is comprised by 52 settlements.

Transportation to Tinos is very privileged for an island of the Aegean. On a daily basis, whether winter or summer, it is connected within 100 minutes with Rafina (or 4 hours if you chose a ferry), which is VERY close to the international airport El. Venizelos via Attiki Odos. It is connected with the same frequency with the port of Piraeus in 2.5 hours (or 5 hours of you chose a ferry). Moreover, it is connected with the same frequency directly with Myconos and its international airport, Syros and Andros. It is also directly connected with Paros, Naxos, Patmos, Leros and Kos. Finally, you can take your car with you in all connections mentioned above.

Administratively, it is divided into the Municipality of Tinos and Exombourgo and the Community of Panormos. Finally, it is a province of the Prefecture of Cyclades, with Tinos as capital.

Tinos is mountainous. The highest mountain is Tsiknias with 726 m altitude. At the central part stands out the historical steep rock of Exombourgo with 641 m altitude. The total length of its coastline is calculated to 114 km.

Ground

Morphology

Tinos is a relatively arid island that has undergone extensive erosion. This is due to the fact that rains that usually fall in the form of a storm, resulting in huge masses of water falling instantly and not being able to be retained.

The ground is mainly mountainous, generally poor in organic elements, shallow and infertile. It has deep relief formations, a fact that bears witness to the erosion it has undergone. To this, except for the climate, contributes also the poor vegetation, which is incapable of retaining the surface soil.

An exception are the few plains of Tinos, which moreover present remarkable underground waters.

Dry walls

An artificial mechanism of eliminating the phenomenon of erosion are dry walls. Dry walls are stone, usually low fences, without connecting material, which are mainly built at the perimeter of an estate. On one hand they play the role or fencing and delimiting and on the other they help with the retention of earth, as well as water.

Given the fact that Tinos is a mainly mountainous island, with the help of dry walls the cultivation of even the most arid and steep slopes became possible.

Dry walls are now an indispensable part of the Cycladic nature and part of the island's identity.

Climate

Conditions

Tinos has a generally dry and mild climate. Heat and frost are seldom phenomena for the island. Perhaps the fact that Tinos is one of Greece's most windy areas contributes to this.

Rains in Tinos last from March until October, they are usually short, strong and cause erosion, but also destructions to the ground relief. The little water that we encounter in the underground waters is collected mainly during the winter.

Temperatures in Tinos fall very seldom under 10°C, while in the summer they never get over 35°C. A phenomenon that is sometimes observed during summer nights is a remarkable drop of temperature (hoarfrost).

Winds

Tinos is known as the island of winds. Part of the main characteristics of its climate are the strong Northern winds that blow often during the year.

In summer and for more than a month they cause a phenomenon that is called "Meltemi". During the Meltemi, strong Northern winds blow during the day and drop during night. To some extend, this phenomenon does not allow extreme summer temperatures.

Agriculture

General Conditions

Tinos does not have suitable soil for agriculture. Its ground is shallow, poor in nutrients and dry and in most of its part mountainous.

A quite known enemy of farmers in Tinos is erosion. For this purpose "dry walls" have been invented, which retain the little soil, but also water.

In Tinos the following are cultivated: the olive tree, the fig tree, beans and string beans, chick peas, as well as various self-sown plants, such as oregano, capers and sage. Moreover, vegetables, artichokes and citrus fruits are cultivated in the plains. Finally, Tinos produces excellent wine and raki.

Citrus fruits

Tinos has the Mediterranean climate necessary for their growth. They are cultivated intensively, but only in the few plains of the island.

The orange and mandarin tree only cover the local market. However, the lemon tree is exported to Athens, Syros and Myconos. During the 1996-97 period, production came up to 200.000 kg.

Vegetables

Although completely unsuitable for the climate of Tinos, its farmers have invented ways of culture adapted to the island's characteristics.

Along small streams, they apply a technique of collecting water in stone tanks. In small fields protected from the winds, next to these streams, the little soil is accumulated in humps and ditches, to which the water from the tanks is channelled.

After this technique, conditions are more suitable to cultivate marrows, eggplants, peppers, cabbages, cauliflowers, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, garlic, parsley, celery, etc. However, production only suffices for domestic use.

The few plains of Tinos yields greater production, since these are cultivated more intensively, but they only suffice for the local market.

The Olive tree

The Olive tree grows without any special care in the warm and dry climate of Tinos and exploits the island's poor and arid soil. Based on the declarations of cultivators, more than 40.000 trees are cultivated.

Although it is cultivated on the whole island, it is mainly benefited in the Southern parts of the island that are better protected from the cold Northern winds and have better exposure to the sun.

They are mainly planted in streams where, on one hand it is deeper and on the other hand the water's influence is benefactory.

Two varieties are cultivated in Tinos: Xantholia, with medium sized olives and 20-25% content in oil and mavrolia with large sized olives and 15-20% content in oil. The latter is also suitable for producing edible olives.

Self-sown

A small extra income for the farmers-of Tinos is offered by three self-sown products that are benefited from its poor, arid soil.

Oregano, which is a vivacious herb, sage which is a vivacious kindling and capers, which is a vivacious bush. Of the first two their dry stems and flowers are collected, while from the last one the buds and the fruits on the tips of the stems are collected.

Stock breeding

Livestock production is about 50% of the income of farmers in Tinos.

According to data from the Veterinary Authority of Tinos, 28,500 sheep and goats, 2,500 swines, 900 calves and 800 cows for milk production are raised. Dove raising is also considered quite widespread.

The animals graze freely in fields hedged by stone walls, while almost in every field there is at least one stable. Perhaps this is the reason why meat from Tinos is considered one of the tastiest.

Tinos on the Table

Recipes

Pichti

It is made by the swine's head and feet. it is a broth that has frozen forming a jell made of the animal's fat. It contains various seasonings, with garlic and vinegar prevailing.

Syglina

It is an appetizer made of pork meat. The meat is cut to pieces and put in a kettle to boil. After they absorb the water, pork fat is added in the kettle. The meat is left to boil until it browns. It is kept in special clay jars, while the gourmets mix them with pork sausage.

Fourtalia

It is the well known omelette with eggs. However, the difference of the original fourtalia is that it is fried in pork fat and also contains pork sausage or syglino. Moreover, gourmets add grated cheese, milk and parsley.

Omelette with artichokes

Tinos' renowned artichokes, however weird this may sound, make a great omelette. Lemon juice and about eight artichokes are added in the omelette.

Potato balls

Potatoes, boiled and mashed, with minced fresh onion, sauteed in fresh butter, with grates cheese, eggs, salt, pepper and oregano. This mixture is then made into balls at the size of a walnut and fried in oil.

Sun dried tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes, cut in half, sprinkled with sugar and exposed to the sun until they dry. Before they are consumed, they are scalded in boiling water or are eaten as they are or with porridge.

Capers salad

It is large capers, which is left in the sun for a long time to dry. Then it is boiled and put to water to sweeten. Finally, it is leached and served with oil and vinegar and garlic dip.

Delicatessen

Louza

It is made of filet. The filet stays in thick grain salt for 4-6 days and then marinated in red sweet wine for several days. After it is taken out of the marinade, it is sprinkled with fennel seeds, pepper, nutmeg and unground pepper. Then it is wrapped in intestines, then in towels and put under weight. Following , it is set on vine twigs, where it is smoked for four hours. After it is smoked, it is hung and left to dry in the air for about two months.

It is served raw in very thin slices. Its taste and abilities remind of Italian prosciuto.

Sausages

Sausages in the Cyclades are mainly made of pork meat. Tinos is famous for its garlic sausages, where the meat is mixed with garlic and sweet wine. It is left like this, in the marinade, for several hours. After that, the swine's intestines are filled with the mixture. Finally, the sausages are left to dry in the air.

They are usually eaten fried, while they are considered a necessary ingredient for "fourtalia".

Cheeses

Analati

In the milk that is destined for cheese, rennet is added, and then it is stirred and left for one day. Then it is put in a cloth and pressed for a while until all the whey is strained and the cheese dries.

Volakia

It is ground "analati", which is salted, made into small balls and left for a few days in an aired room in a cheese cloth.

Malathounia

They are made just like Volakia, but instead of going into cheese cloths, they are put in special baskets to dry. Theis characteristic feature is that they take the form of the basket.

Kopanisti

It is a thick cheese spread with a very spicy taste. It is made of myzithra, which is put in a clay pot and ground with salt. The grinding process is repeated three times periodically. During the last time, the myzithra is pressed very well in the pot, so it does not come in contact with the air, and the pot's mouth is blocked with a cloth soaked with vinegar. The content is ready after ten days.

Graviera of Tinos

it is a relatively modern cheese of the island, with the well known characteristic taste properties, but made of the unique milk of Tinos.

Pastries

Xerotigana

Made of flour, water, lemon and oil. This mixture is kneaded and made into a leaf, which finally is fried. At the end, these fried leafs are put in pans with honey, cinnamon and sugar on top.

Xerotigana are offered in weddings, funerals, festivals with Turkish delights and raki.

Avgokalamara

They are almost identical with xerotigana, but they are considered of superior quality, since their dough contains eggs and is kneaded with milk instead of water.

Psarakia

It is dough leaf cut in round pieces and filled with walnuts, biscuit, honey and cinnamon, baked in the oven. After they are baked, they are sprinkled with rosewater and fine sugar.

Cheese pies

They are nothing like the cheese pies you know. These ones are sweet and you might hear them being called "tsimpites".

The filling contains "analati" cheese, eggs, sugar, vanilla, mastic and cinnamon. The dough leaf contains flour, oil and eggs. They have a characteristic pattern on them and are mainly served in the Easter.

To some extend they might remind you of the Cretan "Kaltsounia".

CHURCHES

The churches are a phenomenon of the island, both in terms of variety and architecture. We present to you the most important orthodox and catholic churches.

Of course, you can find among them a detailed presentation of the renowned Virgin Mary of Tinos. You can also find the history about the discovery and the known miracles of the icon.

Review

The churches of Tinos

The churches of Tinos exceed 750 and their study is quite hard, given their large number and the fact that they are very scattered.

Tinos is a unique phenomenon of church architecture in the world, given the fact that its churches clearly combine both Eastern and Western influences, created by the exquisite quality of work of the artists of Tinos. The churches' campaniles, other magnificent and other simple, are pure works of art.

Finally, it is important to mention that Tinos, except for an orthodox centre in Greece, is one of the few places that has such a great catholic minority, which exceeds 30%.

The Icon of Virgin Mary

The Discovery

The discovery of the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary took place after a vision by St. Pelagia. St. Pelagia was the daughter of father Nikiforos Negrepontis with the secular name Lucia, from Kampos of Tinos. She loses her father at a young age and decides to join the Monastery of Kechrovouni.

On Sunday, the 9/7/1822, she saw in her sleep a magnificent lady with a nimbus, who explains to her how much she has suffered all these years buried under the ground. She asked her to visit the commissioner of internal affairs of the Monastery as soon as the sun rises and announce him her wish to reveal her ruined buried mansion in the field of Ant. Doxaras.

When she woke up she realized that the lady was the Virgin Mary and that the mansion was obviously Her Temple. However, she had doubts on how this could be happening to her, an insignificant humble nun, and that she would have to suffer the mockery and twit of the distrustful people. So she decides not to report anything.

The next Sunday, the 16/7/1822, the same Lady appears in her sleep giving again the same order. Pelagia had now no doubt that she was chosen by the Virgin Mary, but she was again discouraged by doubts.

When the next Sunday, the 23/7/1822, She appeared in her sleep, sad but austere, asking for explanations why she ignored Her order, Pelagia decided to proceed without having doubts.

The same day, Pelagia went to the Abbess, who, knowing her righteous life, believed her and visited the commissioner. The commissioner in turn, accompanied by Pelagia, notified the Metropolite of Tinos, who in turn invited the people of Tinos to the Metropolitan Church of Taxiarchs, asking them to contribute money or labour for this purpose.

The people eagerly started the excavations in September 1822, from which the ancient temple of Dionysos and the temple of St. John the Precursor. However, no sign of an icon was found, a fact that shaded the positive mood and slowly led the people to abandoning the venture. Plague was at a peak again that time, a fact that the commissioner considered a divine punishment.

Again in cooperation with the Metropolite of Tinos thet assemble the people of Tinos with the same appeal, moreover appointing a committee to control the project. For as long as the works were not successful, the people mocked at Pelagia and accused her of being a daydreamer.

With tears in her eyes, Pelagia asks for the help of Virgin Mary, who reveals now the exact spot where Her icon was buried.

On 30/1/1823, after showing ths spot in question, the pickaxe of Dim. Vlassis hits the miraculous icon.

The Miracles

The Virgin Mary's recorded miracles are uncountable for someone to realize, let alone if we calculate the ones that have not been officially recorded.

Since it would be tiring and untimely to mention all Her miracles, we made a small selection from the book "The Icon of Megalochari, the History and Her miracles" of TH. TIGAS, which is perhaps the only book mentioning these directly from the Book of the Virgin Mary's Miracles.

The icon's cover

The first miracle regards a cover of an unknown material that enclosed the icon. Its texture was silky and glasslike and it seemed to be composed of earth and water. The cover protected it like a shield and kept it untouched through the ages.

G. Peridis was trying to strip the icon of this solid matter. During the try, he was told that his son had the Plague and he had serious swellings under his armpits, as well as high fever. He didn't lose temper and completed this fine and difficult task. Then he prayed to the holy icon and took a little of this matter with holy water on a piece of cotton and asked to spread it to his child's armpits. The next day the child was cured.

In the same way people that suffered from serious and incurable diseases were cured.

The elimination of the Plague

The second miracle is considered to be the elimination of the Plague at that time right after the discovery of the miraculous icon.

Devotion of possessions and life

One year after the discovery of the icon and before completion of the Temple, Alivizos Kalavrias, a rich merchant from the Town, had violent behaviour crises after an infectious disease, which got worse with time. During his violent outbreaks he repeatedly mentioned his desire to drown. In deed, one night he managed to get away and dive in the winter sea. The water carried him off shore and the sea was pulling him down. Drowning was certain, given the fact that he couldn't swim. During his last moments he comes to and asks from the seabed from Virgin Mary to save him. The same moment he feels a strong hand pulling him up and then he lost conciousness.

The next morning a fisherman found him and collected him from the sea. Almost dead, they put him on the sand where he receives first aid. Everyone is amazed, not only because he survived after all that sea water he had swallowed, but also from the fact that from that moment he had been completely cured.

Then he sold all his belongings and full of gratitude paid every Saturday the workers' wages, while he was there whenever someone needed him, until he spent all his money. Completely poor now, he puts on the monk's robe and devotes himself to the service of the Temple and the worship of Virgin Mary. Kalavrias was the live history on the building of the Temple and narrator of the miracles of Megalochari.

He died in very old age and for the priceless services he offered, he was buried in the temple's yard, next to the church's founders.

One hundred coins

One day in 1823, when the church's cash was empty and everyone has sad because the works had stopped, an English ship that carried the vice-consul of England, Eric Flick, arrived in the port of Tinos. When the ship anchored, a terrible storm started suddenly. Huge waves fell on the rocks and threatened every ship. The English ship was at risk of crushing on the rocks, since the anchors broke. The English captain, before certain destruction, turns his eyes to the temple, calling for the Virgin Mary's help, making a vow to give one hundred coins.

Passers by at the beach were surprised to see a great miracle. While huge waves were furiously striking the coast, there was stillness around the English ship, as if an invisible hand kept the wild waves away.

The shi was saved and the English captain, not forgetting his promise, offered to the Commission one hundred coins.

The ship with the fish

Whoever enters the Temple can see a model of a ship with a fish stuck on its side hanging under a lamp. It is the offering of the crew of a ship that was at risk of sinking in the ocean due to a crack at its bulge. When the ship was ready to sink within seconds, the men called at the moment of crisis for the Virgin Mary's help and the ship managed to reach the nearest port. However, their emotion reached its peak when they saw stuck in the ship's bulge a large fish that had blocked the crack.

An octopus inside him

The child of Mary from Mytilini (unfortunately her surname is not known) suffered from an incurable disease, for which she had spent a lot of money and suffering, without any result.

One day she arrived at the island in order to ask for the Virgin Mary's help. At that time the icon was on route for a benediction that would take place in a yacht. Immediately, mother and child kneel begging Her to help them. Suddenly the child vomits. Together with the stomach liquid contents appears a piece of flesh in the shape of an octopus. After that the child was relieved and cured once and for all.

The fishbone

Captain Sclavounos suffered from something particular. A fishbone had stuck for two years in his throat and he couldn't get it out in no way. With time it had created an infection and he suffered from strong and relentless pains. The doctors had assured him that unfortunately this case would soon lead him to his death.

When he heard about the miraculous icon, he immediately went to Her Grace, begging Her to relieve him of his torture. A few minutes later, as he drank holy water and was washing his face, he felt a sudden and violent cough, which resulted in the fishbone getting out of his throat.

My Virgin Mary, give me my eyesight

The child of G. Mavrogenous suffered from ophthalmoplegia. The child's mother asked from Sister Pelagia to beg Virgin Mary to save her child. However, Pelagia suggested that she should beg Her herself with faith and piety. After the mother's persistent appeals, Pelagia formed on the eyes of her child the shape of the True Cross with the rosary that she held.

Shortly after that, on the day of the resurrection, after the mother's appeals the miraculous icon went to the house. The child shouted "my Virgin Mary, give me my eyesight too". Before the icon left the house, the child shouted "I can see! I can see!".

His daughter's nanny also suffered from an unknown disease of the eyes. Seeing the miracle, she prayed and was also saved.

The crippled

Dim. Xenos from Moldova froze from the cold one winter night that he was watchman and was found in state of complete rigidness. The doctors managed to revive him, but he remained crippled.

He was transferred to the church of Virgin Mary in state of complete dissipation at the temple of Zoodochos Pigi, where he remained as an inmate for four months. At Easter, while he was asleep, he heard a voice calling him to stand up. In front of him appeared a luminous ethereal figure. he spontaneously stood up to catch up with it and the people watched him surprised to get out of the church all well. He was in such good shape that during the litany of the Second Resurrection he held the Resurrection Banner of the Temple.

Dropsy is gone

George from Tarabados was suffering from Dropsy. his wife Marina took him to the Temple and after they prayed she took him to the well from where the holy water springs and gave him to drink and washed his face. Suddenly lots of water started pouring out of his body's pores. In a few minutes, the huge bulk of his body was gone and he regained his lost strength.

Faith beyond doctors I

Panagiota Nazou, resident in Falatados, was suffering from an incurable wound. The wound had deteriorated to gangrene and the doctors were ready to amputate her leg.

The girls, full of faith, dnied the doctors' decision, turned to the Virgin Mary and was saved. After that she became a nun with the name Pelagia in the monastery of Kechrovouni.

Faith beyond doctors II

Konstantinos Traiforos, a captain from Spetses, was left blind and deaf after a serious dizziness. His people urged him to start special treatments, but he insisted that he be taken to the Temple of Virgin Mary. During the 40 days of his vow he prayed constantly and despite the discouraging promptings by his escorts, the last day that he sprayed his eyes and ears with holy water he got well.

The icon's "sweat"

G. Athinaios, after some hard time with his health, lost completely his eyesight. Sometime he found himself in the Temple of Virgin Mary. That time there was a rogation taking place for a woman that had lost her mind and was shouting beside him. At the end of the rogation the woman was relieved and the icon sweated. Then G. Athinaios asked to collect that sweat with a piece of cotton and spread it on his eyes. He could see right after that.

The marble fragment

The marble sculptor Nicolas from Asia Minor was suffering from a wound in the eye that came from a marble fragment. The doctors of his age could not improve his situation. So he took refuge to Virgin Mary and prayed to Her Holy Icon. Soon later he washed his injured eye with holy water and suddenly the fragment got out. A few days later he was completely well.

Children to the sterile woman

A woman from Evripos of Evoia could not have a child after 10 years of marriage. Her husband threatened her with divorce. Her mother in law suggested that they went together to the Temple to pray to Her Grace. Her entry coincided with the Mass in the Temple of Evresis, at the presence of the miraculous icon. After they attended the mass, they convinced the warden to give them a piece of the wick from the lamp that burnt before the icon. The woman swallowed it with a little holy water.

A year later she brought her child to baptise it in Her Grace with the name Evaggelos.

The fountain of Mustafa Aga

On the way to the Temple, one can see to the right of the yard a marble fountain. It is the offering of a Turk, Mustafa Aga, a chiliarch.

He was crippled and after he heard about the miracles of Megalochari, he came together with his servants and stayed in the Temple for two months. One day as he was lying in front of the Holy icon, he stood up and kneeled before it. The fountain that we can see today bears witness to the miracle.

The orange tree

A rich Greek from America, who had lost his eyesight, asked for the help of Megalochari, promising to offer whatever he saw first. The first thing he saw was an orange tree. His offering, a silver orange tree with its fruits, is found over the right candle counter of the Temple.

Orthodox churches

Virgin Mary

The imposing church of Virgin Mary of Tinos was founded in 1923. It was built on the spot the the icon of the Annunciation, according to the vision of St. Pelagia

It is a wonderful building, made of white marble, which is the first worthy architectural monument of the liberated Greek nation.

Entering the church from the main gate, one can see to the left the screen where the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary is kept, which is full of offerings by believers, as is the whole church.

Exactly under the central magnificent church lies the temple of Evresis, which is dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi. The temple has been built on the foundation of a paleochristian church that was dedicated to St. John. At the same spot was the ancient temple of Dionysos.

Near the entrance of the temple of Evresis lies the Mausoleum of "Elli". It Is the ship that was torpedoed in the port of Tinos in 1940. In the mausoleum are kept the bones of the first victims of World War II, as well as part of the torpedo and items from the ship.

The church's yard is paved with a mosaic of exquisite popular art and was made in 1833.

The ancillary buildings of the church house: the museum of artists of Tinos, the Art Gallery, the exhibition of church relics, the sacrarium and the records of the institution of Evaggelistria.

In Tinos, no matter if someone is catholic or orthodox, everyone loves deeply Virgin Mary. The orthodox honour Virgin Mary on March 25th and August 15th (Dekapentavgoustos) and the Catholics on the first Sunday of May and also on August 15th.

Taxiarchs

The Holy Church of Taxiarchs is a three-aisle basilica. it is a very important church monument in the Town of Tinos. The date of construction is estimated in the years of Venetian administration.

In the Town of Tinos was the orthodox church of St. Nicolas. Taxiarchs was the respective catholic church. However, during the first years of Turkish occupation, there was a deal to exchange the two Churches between the orthodox and the Catholics and so the Taxiarchs are until today an orthodox church.

In 1759, given the fact that the Town of Tinos increased in size, the need came up to renovate the old small church. The plan includes the construction of a larger Church around the small one and then demolishing the small one. At the same time other ancillary units were built in the spacious area around the church. Finally, the church was bestowed with precious woodcut artworks, among which the Church's temple, which is considered an exquisite artwork of the Greek territory of the 18th century. The new Church's inauguration was in 1760.

From 1810 until 1833 it was the Metropolitan Church of Tinos.

Monastery of Kechrovouni

The Holy monastery of Kechrovouni lies in the area of Monastiri and specifically on a steep slope 650 m above sea level. It is dedicated to the Dormition and was founded by women from a rich family of Tinos in the 11th or 12th century.

It is a great building, which includes the main church, smaller chapels, as well as ancillary areas and the monks' cells. This is the monastery of Ag. Pelagia, where she saw the vision of Virgin Mary, who led her to the discovery of Her miraculous Icon.

The visitor, except for her cell, can also see remarkable icons and relics of the 18th and 19th century.

Ag. Triada Gyrlas

2.5 km east of the Town, on the way to Ag. Varvara, lies this historical Monastery, which was founded in 1744.

During the Turkish domination, 20 monks from Mount Athos had settled here and founded a school to teach writing and reading, as well as a seminary.

This dissolved monastery is today a Legal Entity of Public Law and is managed by a committee that falls under and is controlled by the Municipality of Tinos.

Vourgiotissa

This place of worship lies in the northern part of the island, 4 km from the village Agapi, with marvellous view to Kolympithra bay and the endless blue.

It is an 11 x 6 m white magnificent building. The floor is paved with marble slabs and has a wooden temple. The church is dedicated to the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary Vouniotissa, which is kept in the Monastery of Kechrovouni.

The icon was found at sawn of September 8th, 1670 by some fishermen from Sklavochori. The history of its discovery includes a miracle that is worth mentioning:

At dawn 8/9/1670 off some shore some fishermen saw an icon floating on the sea. immediately they decided to collect it and take it to their village. on the way to their village, they decide to rest in a chapel and so they left the icon on the chapel's Altar. When they decided to continue, the icon seemed very heavy, making it impossible to take it out of the chapel. The same day, with a committee of orthodox and Catholics, there was a rogation and the foundations of Virgin Mary Vouniotissa were laid next to the chapel. Residents expanded the church with time and demolished the old chapel.

The church celebrates on the same day as that of the discovery of the miraculous icon, a date that coincides with Virgin Mary's birthday. Following are mentioned three of the numerous miracles of the holy icon:

1. A hagiographer from Arnados went to the church in the morning to work. After three days that he had showed no sign, his wife and children anxiously looked for him in the church. They found him there working, while he hadn't eaten for three days and his food had not been touched. When they curiously asked him why he hadn't eaten, he replied nervously that it wasn't reasolab;e to stop working and eat, since it wasn't even noon yet (!!). It was impossible for him to believe that three days had elapsed after he had entered the church.
2. A woman that was cleaning the church finished late and had to stay there for the night. That night, a peasant approached intending to abuse the woman. He was surprised to see lights in the church and the hall full of people chanting. He finally entered the church, attended the vigil and returned to his cottage. The next morning he was surprised to find out, after asking the woman and other peasants, that no vigil took place in the church that night. The peasant donated to the church the nearby field that was his ownership.
3. A peasant, whose wife was ill from a serious disease, went to the field by the church to sow it. Looking at ehe church, with tears in his eyes, he begged Virgin Mary to help his wife. A nun appeared in front of him and told him that from that moment his wife had been cured. The nun disappeared suddenly as she appeared. The peasant, full of hope, returned immediately to his house and found his wife well.

Eleousa

The church of St. Eleousa is very close to Exombourgo. It is speculated that is was built during the first metachristian centuries (400 - 600 A.D.) and was the Parish Church of a Christian settlement.

Its dimensions are 14 x 5 m. It has a beautiful marble temple and its floor is decorated with rectangular marble slabs with relief representations.

Since 1971 it is the ownership of the Panhellenic Holy Institution of Evaggelistria of Tinos. It honours the name of Zoodochos Pigi and the Mass is performed on the first Wednesday of every month in turn by all priests of Tinos. Moreover, on the last Friday of the salutation of Virgin Mary, the salutations are chanted.

Finally, with the aid if the association "Panagia I Eleousa" talks of religious content are organized.

Kyra Xeni

It is a one-aisle church, 10 x 5, with beautiful view to Panormos. It celebrates on August 15th, but due to the great celebration in the Town, it is celebrated the next or the second next Sunday.

There is a history on the origin of the church and its Holy Icon.

At the beginning of the 18th century, captain Kosmas and his crew was passing north of Tinos with his ship. Suddenly, as usual in this island, a terrible storm breaks out. No matter how hard they tried to ground the ship on Panormos bay, their efforts wee futile. Just before the ship crashed on the rocks, captain Kosmas kneels before an icon of Virgin Mary that he had with him in the ship and begs with his crew for their salvation. He swears that if he is saved, he will build a church to Her Grace and he will become a monk to worship Her for ever. The captain and his crew fall in the sea and after a battle with the waves they are finally saved. The crew is organized and returns home. However the captain remains loyal to his vow. Holding the icon tight in his hands, he climbs up the mountain to go to the nearby village of Marlas. Near the valley of Fleva he decided to rest. After a while, when he got up to continue, the icon seemed very heavy, a fact that he interpreted as the Virgin Mary's wish to build the church there.

Monk Kallinikos now devoted his whole life to build and man the monastery by selling all his personal belongings and making fund raisers in big Christian centres. The Monastery is finally finished in 1755. he dies of very old age and is buried in his monastery.

Pious Christians from Pyrgos keep today kyra Xeni's lamp lit and the church clean. Kyra Xeni came from foreign land to this place and devoted herself to protecting the Foreigners.

Katapoliani

It is a very beautiful monastery, built high in a hill row with spectacular view to the island's endless blue horizon close to the village Ysternia.

Founder and owner of the monastery was Sister Melanthia. In 1778, when she was young, daughter of a rich family, she abandoned her place of origin, Crete, and moves to the Cyclades to become a nun. She passes the nun's test in Paros and the monastery of Ekatontapyliani. However, the environment is not satisfactory and finally she arrives in Tinos and the Monastery of Kechrovouni. However, she leaves there too and ends up in the Monastery of Kato Panagia.

Sister Melanthia, a dynamic and unrestful spirit, starts looking for the ideal spot to anchor in her life. The spot is found in a ruined chapel of the Entrance of Theotokos, from where her eyes travelled to the depths of the endless horizon and her mind sank undisturbed in the mystery of holy creation. So, she sets as a goal in her life to build in this spot a magnificent church monument in favour of the Monastery that nominated her a nun. So she named it Katapoliani and celebrated on September 1st.

With money that she inherited from her rich parents, but also from fund raisers that she organized herself in three separate travels to Constantinople, she raised the money required to complete this wonderful Monastery. She died in 1835 and Tinos and especially Panormos mourned her loss.

Catholic churches

General

Since 1918 Tinos is the Archdiocese of Tinos, Naxos, Paros, Andros and Myconos, but the archbishop has metropolitan responsibility of the whole of the Aegean.

The 23 in total catholic parishes of Tinos are in the Town of Tinos and the villages Steni, Myrsini, Kechros, Potamia, Koumaros, Volax, Skalado, Krokos, Loutra, Xynara, Kampos, Smadrakitos, Tarabados, Kardiani, Ktikado, Perastra, Komi, Agapi, Kato Kleisma, Aetofolia, Karkados and Kalloni.

In every village there is usually a three-aisle church. Every parish has chapels and many more country churches (about 300 in total). Almost in every parish there is a literary centre.

The cathedral of Tinos is Panagia Rodariou, which is in the village Xynara.

Panagia Vrysiou

It is close to the beach of Ag. Romanos with a very nice view to the sea in an area called Vrysi.

Many Catholics come here on August 15th and on the first Sunday of May. Moreover, there is Mass on all days of May and August, as well as every Friday.

The miracle of the discovery

During times that there were often pirate raids on the island, the devout people of Tinos made sure that valuable and sacred objects were hidden in places where the pirates couldn't find them and steal or dishonour them.

During the 17th century, the Theotokos appears in the dream of a catholic nun and asks her to tell the priest to unbury Her icon, after She indicated the spot. The nun informs the village's priest right the next day, however he sends her away, believing she is arrogant. She had the same dream for the second and third time, constantly informing the priest.

The priest, after more mature though, asks for the bishop's advice, who tells him to do it. The next day they arrive at the spot with some workers, where the nun indicated the spot and they almost immediately discover the icon.

Jubilant as they were, they took the miraculous icon to Tarabados and they performed a rogation to the Theotokos. The next day the icon was gone. After looking for it, they found it in the spot where they discovered it. They considered that probably some ill-intentioned person might have taken it and the same night they put it in the church and locket it carefully. The next day the same thing happened, as well as the day after that too. The village's residents then thought that it was a divine command to build a church at the spot where it was discovered. So, with offerings from the catholic villages around, the church of Panagia Vrysiou was finally built.

The icon of Panagia Vrysiou is kept in Tarabados in the church of Archangel Gabriel, while it is returned during celebrations.

Other miracles of the icon

Many miracles are attributed to this icon. We will only mention here the most interesting one:

During Turkish domination, about at the middle of the 18th century, people went at night to the church of Panagia Vrysiou to celebrate Dekapentavgoustos. After the end of vespers, they lit lights, others danced and others lied in the yard and watched the moonlight. The musician with his bagpipes played.

Suddenly everybody stopped laughing, when from inside the bagpipes a human voice is heard saying: "Men and women stop dancing when the frigate arrives and gets ashore you will be taken slaves and put in the ship's hold"

The priest gets his lips to the instrument to examine it but the same words came again out of the instrument. Indeed, deep in the horizon, a pirate ship appeared. Obviously, after seeing the lights of the church and the big fire, they come ashore in Ag. Romanos. People put immediately out the fires and the church's lights and hid inside, begging the miraculous icon to work a miracle and save them. And the miracle happened. Dense trees and reed grew suddenly around the church. When the pirates came there, they couldn't see the church and continued empty handed.

Iera Kardia Iisou

The first Jesuit priest-monk, father Mich. Albertinis, arrives in Tinos in 1661 and settles in Exombourgo (the town outside the fortress). The bishop then offers him a church and a house within the fortress, until 1715 when it is taken by the Turks.

Within a decade, with the aid of friends and believers, the great church of Ag. Sofia was built, which operated normally, but was abandoned with time until 1846. However, after the arrival of the Jesuit Alucio Destro on the island, the church is reconstructed and renamed to church of Iera Kardia tou Iisou (Sacred Heart of Jesus). Since then, many ancillary areas were added (halls, bedrooms, kitchen, etc.) and the complex was transformed to a place of worship.

Today the place's reputation reaches outside the Greek territory. Every Friday the Holy Mass is performed all year long with many believers. In July there is a festival that lasts a whole week and gathers believers from all Greek territories.

All year long, there is a hospitality centre, mainly for young people from all over the world, in the spacious installations of the complex.

Monastery of Ursulines

The Ursulines was founded in loutra in 1862 by the English Marie-Anne Leaves, who was from Constantinople.

Two years after their settlement in Tinos, she had already formed a small community of four sisters and a school where 24 girls of the island went. In 1876-1877 there were applications from all over Asia Minor to be accepted as students in the School of Loutra.

In 1890, the School's capacity includes 36 nuns (13 Greek from Tinos, 13 French and the others of various nationalities) and 102 students (54 catholic and 48 orthodox). The period 1910-1930 was a period of great flourishing for the School, since more than 300 inmates visit it from all Greek territories. During World War II the School closed, since both studies and the students' safety was difficult. After the war, reopening was difficult. Islanders abandoned their villages to look for work in the capital or in large cities. Tinos empties and the villages were depopulated. Lacking students, the School confines itself to the children of primary school, which operated until 1984. However, since the 60's, a carpet manufacturing and a loom school operated in the same spaces, trying to offer employment to the young women of Tinos. At the beginning of the 90's it closed too. Today, the four Ursuline Sisters that serve in Tinos have been taken to the Town, where they are mainly occupied with their pastoral mission and human solidarity.

There is no doubt that the School of Loutra of Tinos saw glorious days in the past, which those who lived there seek in nostalgia. Today, part of the huge complex has been conceded to house the Public Primary School of the newly founded Municipality of Exombourgo for the children of Kati Meri. A great part of the rest of the building, always with the contribution of the Ursuline Sisters, has been converted to a museum, where the visitor can admire testimonials of the huge work that was done in these spaces during more than one hundred years of operation of the Monastery: photographs, student lists, laboratories (physics, chemistry, natural history, music, painting, tailoring), the School's pharmacy, the nursery, rests from handicrafts of the students and many more.

Ag. Fragiskos

Aghios Fragiskos was built in 1702 by the order of the Franciscans who had settled on the island and emerged as one of the centres of worship for the Catholics of Tinos. The monastery that was recognised by the order had been integrated since 1703 to the "Province of Venice".

In 1715 the church was partially destroyed by the Turks. Until 1721, the Franciscans had lost ownership of the church, which they took back with the mediation of Christian diplomats. Since then, the monastery was attached to the central monastery of Santa Maria Draperis of Constantinople.

The monastery was repaired and developed again with the financial aid of the monastery of Constantinople until 1923. Then, a fire destroyed it completely. The Franciscans built it again, but a second destructive fire that broke out in very soon after disappointed them so much, that they left the island.

Today the monastery belongs to the Catholic Church of Tinos.

HISTORY

Find out about our island's very interesting history.

Very important and closely connected with the Greek element from ancient times until the torpedoing of Elli and the German occupation.

Ancient history

First inhabitants

It is believed that millions of years ago there was no Aegean sea, but Tinos, together with other islands were probably the remnants of mountaintops of an area that connected Greece with Asia Minor.

The island is inhabited since very ancient times. The first inhabitants are mentioned to be the Phoenicians and later the Ionians, the Athenians, the Macedonians and the Romans.

Its name probably comes from the name of its first settler, Tinos. Other names of the island were "Ydrousa" and "Ofiousa" due to the large numbers of snakes. Aristophanes calls it "Skordoforos" due to the quality garlic it produced.

On ancient Tinos wrote mainly Ainisidimos ("Tiniaka") and Aristotle ("Politeia Tinion"), who also visited it. However, these works were not saved.

Worship

It was considered that on the island and particularly on mount "Tsiknias" was the residence of Aeolos, god of winds. From there, he unleashed winds towards all directions.

Moreover, Poseidon was worshiped on the island, who was considered to be its patron. They believed that Poseidon got the island rid of snakes by sending lots of storks to eliminate them. His wife Amfitriti was equally worshiped as patron of feminine fertility. To their honor, the Sacred temples of Poseidon and Amfitriti have been built, which are preserved until today in the area Kionia.

Wars and Alliances

• In the year 740 B.C. it is under Eretrian domination. For some time periods it is autonomous and part of the Federation of the Cyclades with Delos as capital.
• In 490 B.C., during the Persian wars, the island falls to the Persians.
• In 480 B.C. the Persians force the people of Tinos to join their alliance. However, the trireme of Panaitios managed to get away before the sea battle of Salamina and informed the Athenians on the Persians' plans. After defeating the Persians, the Athenians mentioned Tinos among the other allied cities on the tripod of Delphi to honour them.
• In 477 B.C. it joins in an alliance with the Athenians.
• In 405 B.C. it falls to the Spartans.
• In 394 B.C. it joins again in an alliance with the Athenians.
• In 362 B.C. it is plundered and enslaved by the Tyrant of Ferrai, Alexander.
• In 338 B.C. it falls to Philip of Macedonia.
• In 300 B.C. it regains its freedom.
• In 224 B.C. it falls to the Egyptians.
• In 202 B.C. it falls to the Macedonians.
• In 200 B.C. it falls to the Rhodians and their ally, the King of Pergamos, Attalos.
• In 146 B.C. it falls to the Romans.
• In 88 B.C. it is plundered and destroyed by Mithridatis.
• In 86 B.C. it falls again to the Romans and forms part of the Roman Province of Asia Minor.
• In 243-249 A.D. it is plundered by the Goths.
• In 292 A.D. after the separation of the Roman Empire, it forms an independent Province with the other islands.
• In 325 A.D. with the recognition of Christianity, it becomes part of the Byzantium.

Medieval history

Byzantium

After the decadence of Rome, Tinos becomes part of the Byzantine Empire.

Tinos, on one hand due to the fact that it was a remote colony of Byzantium and on the other hand due to its important geographical position, met literally countless pirate raids by the Turks, the Arabs, the Saracens, the Sicilians, the Huns and the Goths. And as of that were not enough, during the same period the area had a very hard time due to terrible earthquakes, both in terms of destructions and frequency. Moreover, there were also terrible epidemics, such as the plague. In such a framework Tinos did not have the essentials to create civilization, given the fact that for the inhabitants survival was not self-evident.

If the Byzantium was ruled by a brave and decisive Emperor, the Cyclades were under his protection, if not the evils grew. This phenomenon was of course more frequent with time as the decay of Byzantium grew.

The administration system of Tinos by the Byzantium was of course feudal. Brave knights occupied land, which they divided to large pieces that were the feuds. The peasants were left some very small pieces of land that generally were the most arid. Of their production, they had to give the largest part as tax, while they were obliged to work without payment for their lords.

Venetian domination

During the fourth Crusade, the Venetians join the crusaders and sack Byzantium in 1204. At the distribution they take the islands of the Aegean and the Ionian sea.

The Venetians realized that these dominions need a lot of money in terms of military and naal force, on one hand to keep and defend from pirate raids and on the other hand to educate and organize administratively. For this reason, they turn to rich Barons and Dukes, to which they concede full sovereign rights, which can be inherited to their offsprings.

So starts the dynasty of Gyzis family, which lasts until 1390. During the whole period of Venetian domination, the people of Tinos were not so heavily oppressed by the conquerors.

First and foremost care of the Venetians was the island's defence. The Venetian fleet did not suffice and so military and naval force was formed, outposts were built and finally special care was taken to fortify the castle on mount Exombourgo.

Despite all that and during the whole period of Venetian domination, Tinos suffered a lot from pirates, as well as the organized Turkish army. However, for more than five centuries, these attacks were thwarted successfully and Tinos had the unique privilege to be under Christian rule for all this time.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the Venetians were now in decadence. The islands of the Cyclades had long ago fallen to Turkish hands. Despite that, Tinos remained for a long time impregnable to the Turks and also was the base for lots of destructive raids against the Turks, both in the Aegean, as well as in the Turkish coast. The hatred of the Turks was now boiling, since they could not subdue a headache of such a small island in the middle of the dominions of the endless Ottoman Empire.

In 1715 65 Turkish warships, 74 transports, as well as 25.000 Turkish soldiers arrive at the island. Resistance on the island, although brave, could not stop the advance to the castle of Exombourgo. The castle of Exombourgo is surrounded, but the resistance by the few warriors inside the walls is enough in this case too. Although, as it seemed, the successful countering of this gigantic Turkish raid was certain. The militarily inexperienced commander is afraid that the castle will not last and despite the warrants of his experienced officers on the contrary, he disarms it and gives it to the Turks. The surrender included capitulation with particularly honourable terms for the people of Tinos. With the accusation of "treason after bribery", both the commander and his officers are sentenced to death by the particularly hard punishment of swallowing liquid silver (the punishment for bribery).

Recent history

Turkish domination

Turkish domination in Tinos had nothing to do with any other place in the rest of Greece. The people of Tinos had many freedoms and privileges in terms of clothing, religion and culture, as well as the island's economy.

More particularly, they had the right to wear the local clothing, they were not obliged to wear a fez and were free to build churches and schools.

Moreover, the Turkish fleet was not allowed to approach the island without permission. The presence of the Turks was almost inexistent, since they didn't stay on the island, except for the commander and the judge, who were often away from their seat. The island was in fact governed by four elected persons that constituted the highest authority of Tinos, which was named Community of the island of Tinos.

At that time, Tinos knows great boom. It booms financially after the spectacular growth of commerce and the development of marble sculpture with tours and stores in the whole of the Balkans and Asia Minor.

It emerges in fact as the economic capital of the Cyclades, due to its privileges. The island hosts often the consuls of France, Russia, England, Denmark and Spain. It came to be called "Small Paris". Their way of life, homes and clothing were decisively influenced during that period.

Liberation

On March 31st 1821, Pyrgos with Georgios Palamaris as leader, raises the flag of the revolution. Twenty days later, the flag passes to the Town of Tinos. The people of Tinos contribute to the revolution with 5.000 soldiers and a large fleet of vessels. Seamen from Tinos man the glorious warships of Psara, Spetses and Ydra. The members of the Revolutionary Society of Friends from Tinos are more than twelve, while the island was a valuable refuge for asylum to Greek who were persecuted or refugees.

At the end of January 1823 the icon of Virgin Mary was found. Kolokotronis, Miaoulis, Nikitaras and Makrygiannis arrive at the island to pray. This particular event was considered perhaps the most important sacred message of Greek Orthodox Christendom, for the righteousness of the revolution.

Modern

Torpedoing of Elli

Tinos comes back to the foreground of history on August 15th 1940.

The ship Elli was anchored and decorated with flags for the great celebration outside the port of Tinos. Greece at that time had broken off diplomatic relations with fascist Italy.

While a firing squad was getting ready to get off the ship, Elli was cravenly hit by a torpedo of an Italian submarine, burst into flames and sank one hour later. Two more torpedoes that aimed at the pier that was crowded with people never exploded, a fact that is remembered as a miracle of Virgin Mary.

This craven hit against Elli by a torpedo of an Italian submarine took place while fascist Italy had not even declared war on Greece.

Although this action was aimed at breaking the Greek pride, it managed nothing more than toughing the Greeks even more, in order to force the fascist troops to their most humiliating defeat a few months later.

As tribute, every year a member of the government throws a wreath at the point where Elli sank, while the Commander of the Fleet deposits a wreath to the Mausoleum of Elli that lies under the Church of Megalochari.

German Occupation

During the years of German occupation, the inhabitants suffered from hunger to the extent of starvation. The island's contribution to the resistance against the conquerors, although not particularly known, was once again historical.

Due to its geographical position, the island worked as the largest Allied intelligence and sabotage centre in the Aegean. The radio from Tinos, through the information it transmitted to the Allied Headquarters of the Middle East, caused constant harm to the Germans.

Finally, from the steep little ports of the island small boats with Greek patriots fled to the Middle East to continue fighting against the conqueror. Among them were Konstantinos Karamanlis and Georgios Papandreou.

CULTURE

Perhaps the culturally richest island of the Cyclades. We don't want to strain you, so we only cite part of it.

You will find elements on both the popular tradition that you will find on the island, as well as information on museums, exhibitions and monuments you will be able to admire in person.

Art and tradition

General

Popular art "flows" through the cells of the people of Tinos, who don't miss any opportunity to skilfully combine it with the Cycladic nature.

This creates a unique style that you can only see in this island of the Cyclades.

Everyone who sought these beauties of Tinos called it "the island of artists", while others called it a unique outdoor spectacle of popular art.

Dovecots

Dovecots are monuments of unique artwork, built mainly during the 18th and 19th century.

They are mainly stone buildings comprised by two floors. The lower floor is used as storage and the upper as dwelling of the doves.

They are mainly built on slopes at a particular angle towards the wind and the surrounding area, in order to facilitate the takeoffs and landings of the doves. The patterns on their outer side is believed to attract the doves.

They were created to raise them not only for their tasty meat, but also for the great manure created by their excrement.

Although they are found in most islands of the Cyclades, Tinos has the largest and most magnificent. Their number is not exactly known, however they certainly exceed 600.

Wind mills

Wind mills are of course an integral part of the culture this island of the Cyclades.

Tinos, as the island of winds, favours their operation. More than 80 wind mills operated, where, except for the local production, cereals from nearby islands were ground here too. Some are preserved until today, scattered in the nature of Tinos.

They played an important role during World War II, when they mainly ground barley for some bread during the terrible hunger on the island.

Houses

The characteristic feature of the traditional mansion of Tinos is simplicity and functionality. It has a spacious reception hall, small rooms and is completed by a kitchen with a fireplace. The furniture is quite simple. The yard, which is always at the front, keeps the Northern winds to its back.

Except for these, they are built according to the Cycladic architecture standards. White and blue dominate, with lintels decorating beautiful windows and doors, low profile windows, outdoor staircases connecting floors and the characteristic Kapatsos are only some of these.

Sculpture

To understand how deep in time and the cells of people in Tinos Sculpture is, we should mention that the father of sculptor Feidias was from Tinos.

More than 1000 marble craftsmen from Tinos, with their puncheon and marble from Tinos, made masterpieces of popular art. You can find numerous masterpieces throughout the island. Lintels decorated with ships, fishes, doves and trees, blazons on marble pediments over the doors, marble fountains, church temples and cenotaphs with representations and statues of exquisite art.

This unparalleled style gives it a unique quality and value in comparison to the other islands of the Aegean.

The craftsmen of Tinos, except for marble, worked also with wood. Renowned wood-carvers, such as Chatzinikolos Printzis, Ioannis Kollaros and Ioannis Platis produced works such as the baldachin of Resurrection in Jerusalem.

Basketry

Another field with which the people of Tinos have been occupied. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Tinos has been a centre for basketry creations, which except for Greece, were also distributed to Smyrna and many European markets.

Mainly baskets, panniers and hampers are produced for the needs of farmers, fishermen and pilgrims. the greatest part is produced in Volax.

The process is the same and the materials used are reed and with twigs. The reed and twigs are left in water to soften, so that they are flexible to weave. After they are woven, they are left to dry. No connective matter or machine is used during the process.

Monuments and Museums

Temple of Poseidon

The temple lies in the area Kionia.

Tinos during ancient times was one of the most important religious centres at the same time with that of Delos. During the 5th century B.C. it was flourishing as a centre of worship of Poseidon, who was also worshiped as a healer, except for god of the sea. During the 3rd century B.C. took place the reconstruction and expansion of the temple, where the worship of Amfitriti, wife of Poseidon and patron of feminine fertility, was also established.

Expeditions of believers in the temple took place for mainly three reasons:

1. Passers by to longer destinations were hasty to propitiate Poseidon to give them favourable wind during the journey.
2. The temple of Poseidon was considered equal to the Asklipieio of Epidavros. Patients begged Poseidon to heal them. Moreover, they took part in some ceremonies, while they followed treatments defined by the temple's priests.
3. Tinos was the hallway of pilgrims to Delos. Pilgrims had to go through the expurgatory waters of the temple of Poseidon first in order to continue pure to Delos.

Since the middle of the 1st century B.C. the temple declines and during the 3rd century A.D. it is abandoned due to problems of the Roman Empire due to raids by the Eruls.

Today one can see parts of the foundations of the two temples, the guest house, the bath, as well as a platform. Among the findings, we can see various sculptures and decorations of the temple, which bear witness to its magnificence.

Extensive works of emergence have been executed in the area. Ancient parts are protected by passages of organized visitor movement, wooden bridges, an outdoor area of events and tree planting in the perimeter.

Foundation of Culture of Tinos

The Conference and Exhibition Centre performs research on the culture and the traditions of Tinos, houses the permanent exhibition of Giannoulis Halepas and hosts regularly temporary exhibitions.

It also has a library and an internet cafe.

Archaeological Museum

It is situated on the main street that leads to the port and the church of Virgin Mary. You will find there a rich collection of amphorae and domestic objects from various periods, vases of the Geometric period, great amphorae and clay pots, as well as headstones of the 5th century that were found in Exombourgo and Kampos. In the museum's yard, you will also find exhibits of pieces of the temple of Poseidon and Amfitriti.

The museum also has a rare collection of ancient coins of Tinos, as well as a beautiful mosaic floor that was found in Panagia.

Mausoleum of Elli

There lie the bones of the first victims of World War II in Greece, the members of the crew of the cruiser ELLI, which was torpedoed in 1940 in the port of Tinos. There are also various objects from ELLI.

Museum of Artists of Tinos

It includes sculptures and paintings of Artists of Tinos. it was founded in 1930 and has been enhanced ever since. Only one part of the works comes from buys of the Foundation, which never stopped supporting the arts and letters. Many of the works have been donated by the creators themselves as a token of gratitude for the scholarships that the Foundation granted them to study.

Among many important sculptors from Tinos, works of the Fytalis brothers, Georgios Vitalis, Dim. Filippotis and Lazaros Sochos are exhibited.

Moreover, paintings by the famous painters Nikiforos Lytras and Nikolaos Gyzis are exhibited.

Sacrarium

The Foundation's rich sacrarium includes only part of the offerings, mainly works of church silver and goldsmith, exhibited in elegant showcases.

The following are worth particular attention:

• The benediction cross, finding and offering of the Greek soldiers of Kleisoura in 1940.
• The old vermeil case of the Holy Icon (Venice 1830) with a ridge of Angels by Nikiforos Lytras.
• The Epitaph that is Embroidered with Gold by Kokona Rologa, a renowned embroiderer of Town, 1833.
• The will of the Owners, i.e. the first regulation for the operation of the Holy Foundation, established by the Owners - Commissioners, in silver binding.

Museum of Chalepas

The works of our great artist of modern Greek sculpture (Pyrgos 1851 - 1938) are exhibited in the foundation's literary centre.

The artist's artistic course is divided into three periods: The exhibition covers 19 works of the second period, among them "Satyr and Cupid II", V and VI, "Ariadne Dormant", "Angel" and others. A work of the fisrt period is "Affection" (1875) and of the third period the "Annunciation in plaster" (1936).

House of Chalepas

The museum is housed in the house that our great sculptor was born, in Pyrgos. You will find here sculptures and personal belongings.

Museum of Sochos

A special exhibition is the one of the professor of the Polytechnic School and Academic Antonios Sochos (Ysternia 1888 - 1975). It is comprised by 16 of his sculptures, a donation by himself to the Holy Foundation in 1966, in plaster and wood, but also in clay and marble, that cover the whole of his course in sculpture.

Combining the Greek tradition with the modern European trends and drawing elements from the ancient plastic arts, the popular art and primitive abstraction, he created a personal style.

After 1949 he worked almost exclusively on woodworks made of eucalypt wood.

Museum of Arnados

It operates in the village of Arnados, next to the parish church. it includes old icons from churches of the area, old books, church objects and canonicals.

Museum of Kechrovouni

It is situated inside the Monastery of Kechrovouni It includes old icons and valuable church objects. Very interesting are the handicraft objects made by the nuns themselves.

Exhibitions

Art Gallery

It was established in 1961 from a donation to the Holy Foundation. It includes many and important works of Greek and foreign painters.

The works of two of the greatest Greek painters of the 19th century, Nikiforos Lytras (Shepherd, Arab, Landscape, Portrait of Man, Portrait of Woman, The Peasant) and Nikolaos Gyzis (Penelope Gyzi, My Mother Madam Taro) are of particular importance.

The last part includes a collection of precious European artworks, African carved ivory (offerings of Greeks abroad), as well as portraits of the donor's family.

Icons and Relics

It operates since 1956, exhibiting old icons gathered by the Holy Foundation from the Parish Churches of Tinos, which it maintained, setting off the island's Orthodox Hagiography tradition.

There are also other icons, offerings by believers from various places, as well as woodworks, engravings and church relics that complete the exhibition.

Special reference should be made to the Charter of Rigas Feraios, one of the three originals that have survuived (1797), the Patriarch ceremonial of martyr Patriarch Grigorios the V, the ring of Theodoros Kolokotronis, offering by himself to the Megalochari and the engraving - copy of the icon of Megalchari, work of the painter Fragiskos Desipris from Tinos (1858).

House of Exhibitions

In a very beautiful site, in the village Falatados, you can visit this gallery that is known around the world. Numerous exhibitions are hosted here during the whole summer period.

Saltamanikas Exhibition

Michalis Saltamanikas studied in the School of Fine Arts of Pyrgos. He exhibits his works, which have the sea as primary subject, at the entrance of the village.

Chondrogiannis Exhibition

In Pyrgos of Tinos, this artist has an exhibition hall that operates in the summer. He creates sculptures on demand.

Foundation of Evaggelistria

Establishment and Vision

The Panhellenic Holy Foundation of Evaggelistria of Tinos is the general and substantial form of Virgin Mary of Tinos. It is a charitable foundation with great holdings, which mostly comes from the offerings of believers to the Holy Church. It helps not only the anonymous believer, but also the Greek nation in general.

The Holy Foundation of Evaggelistria was formally established in January 1825 with the announcement of the will of the Owners and Founders of the Pilgrimage. The Owners are the first Commissioners of the Temple. They were found the Holy Icon and built the holy Church and the largest part of the Complex that surrounds the Church of Evaggelistria. They established with the aforementioned will the Holy Foundation of Evaggelistria, setting as primary goals Education and Charity and set the first rules for its Administration.

The establishment and course of this Panhellenic Foundation coincides with the course of the modern Greek State, which monitors and contributes decisively. Already since the time of the fight for Independence, it sheltered the thousands of refugees that took refuge in Tinos. Later, it contributed to the establishment of the National University, offered many times aid to the National Fleet to such an extend that the Foundation was nominated a Benefactor, contributed financially in all mobilizations of the 19th century, offered aid to the small Greek State for the countering of famines, earthquakes, floods, offered land to the refugees, aided the Air Force, while in December 1940 it offered all offerings and valuables of the Holy Icon and the Church in favour of the National Fight for thwarting the attack of fascist Italy.

At its expenses schools, the old peoples' home and other charitable foundations were built in Tinos. It provides scholarships to poor students, helps the suffering and those struck by disaster all over the world. It contributes to the construction of Orthodox Churches in African countries and aids missions locally and abroad. It established the School of Fine Arts in Pyrgos and the religious high school of Tinos, which it aids until today. It also contributes to all great projects in Tinos (roads, water supply, port, electricity plant, Literary Centre, Polymereio Mansion, etc.).

Organization & Operation

The State, already since 1835, characterizes this Holy Foundation with an act as "pilgrimage of all the Orthodox" and clearly separates it from the other Churches and Monasteries.

With R.D. 7/4/1851, the holy Foundation is clearly separated from all other Holy Foundations of the State and the independence and self-governance of this Foundation is confirmed. This character of the pilgrimage is accepted until today, with the exception of the period of the dictatorship of 1967.

Today the Holy Foundation has the form of Legal Entity of Public Law with a separate law governing its administration. It is no parish church or monastery, but a charitable foundation. it has its own resources and administration governed by the public accounting standard. Its expenses are controlled and approved by the Court of Auditors under the surveillance of the Ministry of Education. The committee draws up each year the budget and the Financial Statements, which are approved of by the Ministries of Education and Finance.

In the Holy Foundation work people that are paid by its treasury. The clergymen that serve in the church are also its employees, without interfering with its administration.

It is managed by a committee of six citizens with the Metropolite of Syros-Tinos as President. The members are elective and are elected every three years from a body of electors comprised by the self governance of Tinos and the members of the Board of the Brotherhood of people of Tinos in Athens. They are necessarily citizens of Tinos and Orthodox Christian. The office of the commissioner is honorary and unsalaried.

The Panhellenic Holy Foundation, which is a Panorthodox centre, continues until today its upward spiritual course set by its ever memorable owners and first commissioners Stamatelos Kagadis, High Priest Gabriel, Georgios Peridis, Antonios Kallergis and Chatzigeorgios Siotos.

Great Artists of Tinos

Vitalis

Georgios Vitalis was born in Ysternia in 1840. His father was an architect. While he was still in high school, he hired him as his assistant in Smyrna. Young Vitalis was hungry for more education and so he leaves his father and comes secretly in Athens to stay with his uncle. His uncle has a marble sculpting workshop, while he was also teaching sculpture in the Polytechnic School of Athens. Young Vitalis worked half the day in the workshop and studied the other half in the aforementioned school. His performance in classes was exceptional. After 7 years of studies, he receives the diploma of artist sculptor with the first prize.

Queen Amalia, who appreciated his talent, sent him at her expense to study in the Fine Arts Academy of Munich in 1862. There, young Vitalis comes first, justifying the Queen's expectations.

During his studies in Munich, he married the daughter of the young Baron that sheltered him.

Although he had a honorary proposal by the King of Germany to take the place of professor of fine arts in the Academy of Munich, he preferred to dedicate the rest of his life making artworks for Greece.

He comes back to Syros, where he establishes a marble sculpting workshop. He creates excellent sculptures that adorn the capital of the Cyclades, as well as the marble temple of the largest and most beautiful church in Greece, St. Nicolas of Syros. He also decorated the palace of Queen Amalia and the mansions of Sofia Trikoupi and S. Skouloudis.

He took part in many exhibitions, receiving gold and silver medals. From the King of Italy, he received the diploma of honorary member of the Artistic Institute of Rome. From the Greek Government he had a proposal to take the seat of professor of Fine Arts in the Polytechnic School of Athens Charilaos Trikoupis, who appreciated him a lot, asked his opinion every time he intended to adorn Athens with works of art. He also sent him to England to create the Statue of the Philhellene English politician Gladstone, which adorns the yard of the University of Athens. The English press dealt with this work, characterizing it as worthy of the works of the greatest ancient artists.

During his last two years of life, he went to Alexandria, where he created the statue of Averof. However, he developed an incurable disease and died in 1901 at the age of only 61 years.

You can see some of his most important sculptures in the Museum of Artists of Tinos.

Ghyzis

Nicolaos Gyzis was born in Sklavochorio of Tinos in 1842. At the age of 8 he created sketches and drawings. There was no work at the village, so his family settled in Athens in 1850.

His father thought he would take over the carpentry he had at the ground floor of their house. However, the young boy was not satisfied with this work and studied secretly in the Polytechnic School for one year. His mother, who wanted to see him a great artist, was covering for him to his father. In the end, his father agreed that he was not destined to be a carpenter and agreed to continue his studies.

According to the regulation of the School of Fine Arts, students must have completed at least their 12th year of age. Young Gyzis was only 8. He continued his studies based on a certificate that presented him as 4 years older. Finally, he completed his studies in 1861.

In 1865 he received a scholarship from the Holy Foundation of Evaggelistria and went to Munich until 1972. While he attends classes diligently and receives distinctions, he does not accept and does not execute faithfully the professors' style. He turns away and follows his own style. The first phase of his artistic creation is completed in this period.

In 1872 he returns to Athens where he builds a painting workshop. He worked in Greece for two years, as he was bound by his scholarship, and in 1874 he leaves again to Munich. He returns again to Athens in 1877 to marry Artemida Nazou. He returns again to Munich, where he receives a prize by famous Critics for his work. He was elected professor of Fine Arts in 1888 in the Academy of Munich.

Lytras

Nikiforos Lytras was born in Pyrgos in 1832. His teacher at school discovered the young pupil's inclination for painting and suggested to his father not to let such a genius unexploited.

His family settled in Athens. After his studies in High School, he studied in the School of Fine Arts of the Polytechnic School of Athens. He made great progress. During his studies, he was hired by his professor as an associate for the decoration of the Russian Church of Athens.

After his graduation, King Otto sent him to study in the Academy of Fine Arts of Munich on scholarship. Both for his character and his performance, he caused admiration. Although he was proposed the position of classicism in the Academy, he did not accept the honour and returned to Greece.

In 1866 he was appointed professor of Fine Arts in the Polytechnic School of Athens. As a professor he was mild, affectionate, gentle and a perfect pedagogue.

He was a model of human, artist, Greek, folklorist and pedagogue. After having received publicity in Greece and abroad, he died in 1904 at the age of 72 after a gradual deterioration of his health.

Sochos

Lazaros Sochos was born in Ysternia in 1862. At the age of 14 he studied in the School of Fine Arts of the Polytechnic School of Athens. His performance was exceptional. After his studies he went to Paris on scholarship by the Holy Foundation of Evaggelistria in 1881. We entered the Fine Arts Academy as one of the best. There his talent shone.

After his graduation, he established a marble sculpting workshop in Paris. It was the centre of gathering of European artists.

As a person he was simple, spartan, modest, charitable and did not seek honours, glory or offices. His unique ambition was to give nice forms to his sculptures.

His works were mainly inspired by the Greek nature and history. He was distinguished for originality, grace, nobility, imposition and perfection of creation. His works received prizes in 17 contests and international exhibitions.

In 1905 the Greek Government assigned to him the erection of the Lion of Haironia and the Archaeological Society of Athens assigned to him the supervision of the works in the archaeological site of Olympia. In 1908 he took over the seat of Fine Arts in the Polytechnic School of Athens.

In 1911 he developed an incurable disease and died at the age of 49 years.

Filippotis

Dimitrios Filippotis was born in Pyrgos in 1839. His family settled in Athens, where he graduated from High School. Consequently he studied in the Fine Arts Academy of Rome, receiving distinctions and awards from all classes. After his graduation, he established a marble sculpting workshop in Athens.

In 1874 he is visited in his workshop by the King of Greeks Georgios I accompanied by the King of Denmark Christianos, who expressed their admiration. So did the Minister of Education Andreas Avgerinos.

Unfortunately the Greek State was indifferent and unaffectionate to this great artist from Tinos. He did not receive the seat of professor of sculpture in the Polytechnic School of Athens that remained empty many times. However, despite all that, graduates from the Polytechnic School rushed to apprentice and work in his workshop.

As it is usual, the work of our great artist was appreciated after his death in 1919 at the age of 80 years. The Greek committee awarded him the post-mortem great prize of Letters and Arts. his workshop contributed a lot to the advancement of Fine Arts and Culture.

In the Museum of Artists of Tinos of the Holy Foundation of Evaggelistria you can find the marble statue of Koumoundouros.

Fytalis Brothers

The Fytalis brothers appeared in the artistic scene just after the liberation from Turkish domination. They were the founders of modern Greek art and drew the path that their successors followed. They were born in Ysternia just after 1820.

Their father was a marble sculptor in the village. However, the family settled in Athens. Right after their graduation from School, they established a workshop on Akadimias Street, opposite of the church of Zoodochos Pigi.

Georgios Fytalis received his diploma from the Polytechnic School and soon after he was appointed professor of Fine Arts.

Their workshop was a seed stock of artists between 1840-1878.

Works of Lazaros and Markos Fytalis adorn the Museum of Artists of Tinos.

Chalepas

Giannoulis Chalepas is the most famous sculptor of Tinos, renowned in Greece and worldwide. He was born in Pyrgos of Tinos in 1854. His father was a marble sculptor. Since he was young he had shown zeal for sculpture.

After his graduation from the Prim. School of Pyrgos, his parents sent him to Syros, where he studied until the first class of High School.

He was asking persistently from his parents to study in the School of Fine Arts of the Polytechnic School of Athens, despite their contrary opinion. His persistence convinced them and they sent him in 1869.

His performance was exceptional and caused the admiration of his professors. He passed two grades a year with distinctions and awards and in 1872 he receives the diploma of sculptor.

The Foundation of Evaggelistria grants him a scholarship in 1873 to study in the School of Fine Arts in Munich, where he completes his studies in 1876.

The same year he rents a small ground floor store and uses it as house and marble sculpting workshop.

At the year 1978 he developed a mental disorder that plagued him for 40 years. In this way one period is completed, which is considered the first period of his work.

The second period of his work starts in 1918, when he started regaining his reason. Abandoned by the State and people, he settles in his father's house in Pyrgos, creating works out of clay. After the uproar created by some critics about his name and his unacceptable abandonment, his works are exhibited in 1925 in the Exhibition of the Academy of Athens, while an art loving merchant from Piraeus granted him a monthly allowance. in 1927, the Academy of Athens awards him the prize of Letters and Arts, without any further material support though. The second period of his work is completed in 1930. It is considered that the works of this period reflect his injured state of mind due to the long lasting illness.

The third period is characterized by works of decreased performance, which bear witness to his misfortune, grief and melancholy.

School of Fine Arts

General

The school of fine arts in Pyrgos of Tinos operates since 1955. It constitutes the most important of marble craftsmen in Greece. Two of its distinguished students enter directly the school of fine arts of Athens, while a large proportion of its graduates is absorbed in erection works of ancient monuments.

During the studies, students in the school receive free food. The environment of Pyrgos and the cultural tradition of the island in general create the best conditions for studies.

Except for marble sculpture, some of the lessons taught there are: Freehand and Architectural Design, Painting and History of Art.

The school is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and the greatest financial sponsor is the Panhellenic Holy Foundation of Evaggelistria of Tinos.

CONTACT

We would like to in open contact with you.

Address the Municipality or its site and ask for details, place your complaints, proposals or anything else you would like to tell us.

We also have open communication with our citizens and promote the ones that need promotion to the tourists on the island.

MUNICIPALITY OF TINOS, 24 MEGALOCHARI AV, P.C. 84200, TINOS