The most religious island in Greece travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Tinos is one of the biggest Greek islands of the Cyclades. It is the third Cycladic Island in size and it is 195 square kilometers. The perimeter of its coast line is 114 kilometers and it is located south-eastern of Andros and north- western of Myconos. Tinos is basically an island with religious and worshipping tourists. Four major festival days are: January 30- the anniversary of the finding of the icon; March 25- the Annunciation of Mary; July 23- the anniversary of the vision of the nun Pelagia and August 15- the Assumption of Mary. The finding of the icon, the erection of the temple, the improvement of the transportation had a great impact to the social and economic evolution of the island.

Every visitor is amazed by the beauty and calm of the beaches of Tinos Greece. Long beaches with golden sand, pebble and rocky beaches and little coves are offering their crystalline waters and their deserted landscapes. A few of these beaches have sun beds, umbrellas, water sports facilities, accommodation, restaurants and snack bars. It highest mountain is named Tsiknias and is 725 meters high. According to mythology Aelos, the god of the winds lived at the channel of Tsiknias. This explains the fact that the area is very windy.

The architecture of Tinos is a traditional folk art. Most of those exceptional buildings can be found in the central and eastern part of Tinos. They dating from the 18th and 19th century and are more than six hundred decorating the island’s landscape. A broad paved street leads from the harbor to the low hill on which stands the Church of Our Lady. Tinos is famous for the Church of Panagia which has a miraculous icon and is attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over the country on the 15th of August, feast day of the Virgin. The icon, called Our Lady of Good Tidings, is a beautiful portrayal of Mary kneeling with her head bent in prayer. Regarded by scholars as being older than the Byzantine period, it may perhaps be the work of the Apostle and Evangelist St. Luke. Numerous reports of miracles of healing rapidly increased the fame of the Church of the Megolohari. The results of the sacred icon are the most venerated pilgrimage item of the Greek nation. Built in marble the church stands overlooking the town on the site where a miraculous icon of Our Lady was discovered.

Next to the church is the Gallery of Tiniot Artists and Modern Greek Painters, which has a very interesting collection. Close by is the Archaeological Museum of Tinos. It houses finds from the temple of Poseidon and Amphitrite and from the Geometric marble of Exo Meria. Tinos is an island for those who appreciate the old ways and lifestyle of the islanders, the authentic picturesque villages that one hopes to find on a Greek island, and the simple Greek cuisine that Greece itself is famous for. Here on Tinos, it’s back to basics.