Tinos

Tinos is one of the most beautiful islands in the Cyclades. The marvellous landscapes, the excellent beaches and its unique architecture make Tinos an ideal place for unforgettable moments. Today Tinos has excellent tourist facilities and becomes a popular destination. The island lies between Syros, Andros and Mykonos and is 86 nautical miles from Piraeus and 62 from Rafina. It is a mountainous island with an area of 195 sq. km., a coastline of 106 km and a population of 8,000. From Tinos one can visit the other surrounding Cycladic islands.

According to mythology, Tinos was the home of Aeolus, god of the winds. The Ionians came to Tinos around 1000 BC. In the 6th century BC it was ruled by Eretria, while in 490 BC it was seized by the Persians, regaining its freedom after the battle of Marathon. Poseidon was the god chiefly worshipped on Tinos, a fact evidenced by the remains of a temple dedicated to him and Amphitrite at Kionia.

In 1207, Tinos was conquered by the Venetians. Venetian rule here lasted longer than on any other island of the Cyclades. In 1715, Tinos was taken by the Turks, to be liberated by the Greeks in the War of Independence of 1821. The year 1822 was an important one for Tinos, for it was then that the famous icon of the Blessed Virgin was discovered, after a nun in the Kechrovouni convent saw it in a vision. She is honoured on the island today as St Pelagia of Tinos. The island features in more modern history with the torpedoing of the Greek cruiser "Elli" in Tinos harbour by an Italian submarine on 15 August 1940-the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin.

Tinos is known as the island of the 20 windmills, the 1000 pigeon-houses, the 50 villages waiting to be explored, the co-existence of Greek - Orthodox and Catholics, Venetian fortifications, sculptors and artist painters, Gyzis, Chalepas and Tsokles. Tinos of the basketweavers. Tinos of the 800 churches, Tinos of Megalochari (the Graced Madonna). Tinos the all dressed in green, the waterbearer, the little known. Tinos of the Monasteries. Tinos of the fear of the Pirates, of the 16.000 political or religious refugees during the 18th century. Tinos of the ceramists. Tinos of the ancient fountains carved in marble. Tinos of the stone Giants in Volax. Tinos the untainted by the Turkish occupation. Tinos the honeybearer. Tinos of yesterday, of today, of tomorrow.