Tinos is an island of the Cyclades Archipelago, in the Aegean Sea, known for its famous marble sculptures and dovecotes, picturesque villages, religious pilgrimage and local gastronomy.
According to Greek mythology, Tinos was the island of Aeolus, ruler of the winds. Traces of human presence date back to the Early Bronze Age. In antiquity, the island was mentioned by several writers, such as Aristophanes and Aristotle. In the 4th century BC, Tinos was a religious center, dedicated to the worship of Poseidon and Amphitrite.
The use of marble was known since ancient times, but it wasn’t until the 18th century that the workshops of marble craftsmen thrived. This art is listed in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Since the 19th century, it is considered one of the most important Orthodox Christian pilgrimages in Greece, due to the miraculous icon of Panagia Evangelistria (Our Lady of Tinos).
During the Byzantine period and the Venetian rule, the settlements of Tinos were removed from the seaside to the inland, for protection. There are more than forty villages on the island, some date back to the 12th century. Apart from Tinos Town (Chora), the villages of Pyrgos, Kardiani, Volax, Falatado, Dyo Horia, Komi, Panormos, are worth exploring.
The landscape of Tinos varies from calm-water beaches to mountainous rocky formations. The terraced fields are used by some 500 farmers, members of the Agricultural Cooperative of Tinos which was founded in 1951. White chapels and 600 dovecotes are spread all over the island.
From Tinos, daily excursions o cruises to the nearby islands of Delos & Rhenia, Mykonos, Andros, Syros, can be organized.
Doucas Tours & Travel offers holiday packages to Tinos Island.
Access to Tinos Island: By boat from the ports of Piraeus or Rafina (Athens).
The packages include:
- Accommodation in selected hotels of all categories.
- Boat tickets from Piraeus or Rafina (May-Oct).
- Transfer or Car Rental.
- Shared cruises and shared or private activities.
- Tailor-made Day-by-Day itinerary.
This program applies to Individuals (May-Oct). Request a quotation.
