Tinos is the ‘holy island’ of the Cyclades, the island of miracles. As the spiritual heart of Greece, it is known for the church of Panagia Megalochari, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Tinos and of all of Greece. According to the legend, the church was built following the dream of a local nun in 1823. The Virgin Mary led her to a place where she dug a hole and found a mysterious icon, representing the Virgin Mary praying. Today it is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage in Greece. On August 15th (the Ascension of the Virgin Mary), believers visit this church en masse and many of them make their way from the harbour all the way up the stairs to the church, on their knees.
Tinos has about 750 churches, but the island has many more wonders to offer! The 50 active traditional villages, mostly consisting of local marble, are absolute pearls to walk through. All that marble has also been transformed into beautiful sculptures, which you can admire in the museums of Tinos. But that’s not all; the island has about 1000 artistic dovecotes and these ‘peristeriones’ are typical for the landscape of Tinos. They are made of slate and limestone, and each one is a masterpiece.
However, it is not only the ‘man-made’ that can be admired; Tinos is a fantastic place for extreme sports such as mountain climbing, hiking or enjoying some excellent beaches such as Livadia. Then, after a day in nature, you will surely enjoy some Tinos cheese, Louza (smoked meat) and sweet raki; Greece at its best! Tinos even produces Greece’s first European award-winning beer: Nissos.
