Tinos sightseeing - Places to visit in Tinos

September 1, 2008

Tinos is an island of the Cycladic Archipelago. It is one of the most interesting places of Greece, with great natural beauty and interesting folk culture. It is an important religious center, with hundred of churches and country chapels scattered over the island. It is the most important place of worship in Greece, with the Sanctuary of Evanghelistria, which houses the miracle working icon of the Virgin Mary.

Tinos Caves

Tinos has several interesting caves:

  1. The Cave of Gastrion, in Kionia.
  2. Mygospilia or Kammeni Cave, a few km north-west of the village of Aetofolia .
  3. The cave of Drakolakkos, 4 km west of the village of Platia.
  4. The Cave of Voulismeni, 1 km south of Faneromeni.
  5. The Cave of Kithara, 3 km north of Voulismeni Cave
  6. The Cave of Fournakion, between Cape Papargiros and Cape Axachopos.
  7. The Cave of Spilias, between Cape Fero Krimno and Cape Diasphae.
  8. The Caves of Krouftes, north of Falatados.
  9. The Cave of Mourounia, in the northwestern part of the island.
  10. The Cave of Koufangeli, west of the harbour of Panormos.
  11. The Cave of Panormos and Kamara, on the northwestern side of the bay of Panormos.

Tinos Architecture

  • The houses of Tinos. The island’s houses are characteristic constructions that are distinguished by their simplicity and functionality. Externally the house has very simple lines, the main decorative element being the semicircular arch, which is usually midway between the ground floor and the first floor.
  • The Churches of Tinos. The entire island is dotted with churches and chapels which constitute a characteristic aspect of the Tinian landscape. There are more than 750 churches today, of which about 220 are Catholic. The construction of so many churches was due in part to the long Venetian occupation. The most important is the Sanctuary of Evangelistria were the miracle-working icon of the Virgin Mary is housed. This church has a Museum with ecclesiastical icons and artworks and an Art Museum with pictures of very important Greek painters.
  • The Windmills. During the Venetian occupation there were more than 80 windmills, built of local stone. Only a few of them were still working until 20 years ago.
  • The Doves-cotes. In Tinos there are also dove-cotes. They are massive stone-built edifices, the lower floors of which were storage places for agricultural products and the upper floors were places for the raising of pigeons. They were built in the 18th and 19th Centuries and with their unusual decorations (rhomboids, triangles) they are folk artistic creations, unique in the world. The majority of them are in the central part of the island and in the Tarabados Valley.

Tinos Historical Places

  • The Archeological Museum of the capital, with findings from all the island.
  • The ruins of Ancient City, capital of the island during the classical times, near the village of Isternia.
  • The remains of a Venetian Fortress, built on the acropolis of the ancient city, near the village of Isternia.
  • The ruins of the Ancient Temple of Poseidon, near the village of Kardiani

Tinos Monasteries

  • The Monastery of Kechrovouni, 500 km from Arnados. According to the tradition, it was founded in the 10th Century. It has a Museum, with interesting icons (mainly from the 18th and 19th Centuries). It is one of the biggest and most beautiful monasteries of Greece.
  • The Jesuit Monastery, a imposing building in Loutra, founded in 1661.
  • The Catapoliani Monastery (1783), 5 km from Isternia,
  • The Catholic Monastery of Ursulin Nuns (1862), 7 km from Komi.

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