CYCLADES SIGHTSEEING - TINOS

The ancient name of Tinos was Ofinoysa due to the many snakes that were on the island. Because of the strong winds people believed, according to mythology, that Tinos was the island of Eolos, God of the Winds. On Tinos you can see the remains of the temple of Poseidonas and Amfitritis at Kionia, which shows that people worshipped Poseidona.

In modern times, Tinos is known as "The Bride of the Cyclades" owing to its enormous natural beauty, with 50 or so white villages clinging to the hillsides.

Tinos, the capital of the island and its port, has a population of about 3000 people. A broad paved street leads from the center harbor up to the low hill on which stands the Church of our Lady. Housed in the church is the famous miracle-working Icon, thus making Tinos the most sacred place in Greek Orthodoxy. Each year, thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine hoping for a miracle or giving thanks for the occurrence of some great event in their lives.

On the 15th of August, a major celebration takes place, and the town is crammed with thousands of worshipers.  Following a procession with the Icon and brief religious services, the town takes on a very festive air with tavernas and restaurants full well into the night, with roving groups of musicians, street sellers and shop stalls open till the wee hours, and bars and discos packed with revelers.

Two main roads connect most of the villages on the island and lead to the beaches in the north and northeast. The routes are very scenic, encompassing the local architecture, rolling terraced hillsides and hundreds of intricately carved dovecotes. The lunar landscape surrounding the village of Volax is unique and not to be missed.

There are plenty of good beaches too, notably at Agios Fokas near town, Agios Sostis, Pahia Amos, Porto, Kionia, Panormos Bay and Kolimbithra.

Tinos is serviced by ferries and hydrofoils from both Piraeus and Rafina, with excellent connections to other Cycladic Islands.

SIFNOS, ANDROS, AMORGOS, DELOS, IOS, KEA, KYTHNOS, MILOS, MYKONOS, NAXOS, PAROS, ANTIPAROS, SANTORINI, SERIFOS, SIKINOS, SYROS, TINOS, FOLEGANDROS