Tinos

Tinos is a beautiful Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It is part of the Cyclades archipelago. Nearby islands include Andros, Delos, and Mykonos.

Tinos is famous for its Church of Panagia Evangelistria. This church has a special icon of the Virgin Mary. The island also has around 80 windmills, about 1,000 artistic dovecotes, and 50 active villages. Visitors can see old Venetian walls and forts on the mountain Exomvourgo.

Both Greek Orthodox and Catholic communities live on Tinos. The island is home to many talented artists, such as painters Nikolaos Gysis, Yannoulis Chalepas, and Nikiforos Lytras.

Each year, on August 15th, people come to Tinos for an event called the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Many pilgrims walk a short distance to the church to show their faith.

History

In ancient times, the island was called Tenos. It had other names too, like Hydroussa because of its many springs and Ophioussa because of its snakes. Heroes from old stories were said to have been there.

Map of Tinos by Giacomo Franco (1597)

Later, the people of Tinos helped the Greeks fight against invaders. They joined groups like the Delian League. Over time, different leaders ruled the island, including families from Venice and later the Ottoman Empire.

In more recent history, Tinos was part of Greece's fight for freedom. During a celebration in 1940, a ship called the Elli was sunk by an enemy submarine, and many people were hurt.

Geography

Satellite image of Tinos

Tinos has many beaches along its shores, like Panormos, Kolimbithra, Kionia, Agios Yannis O Portos, and Agios Sostis. The highest mountain is Tsiknias, which is 750 metres (2,460 feet) tall and hides the village of Livada. Another mountain, Exobourgo, looks sharp and jagged, unlike the rounder mountains of nearby islands. Between these two mountains is the flat plain of Falatados.

Near the village of Volax, the land has giant boulders, some as big as buildings. The mountains around Pyrgos have green marble. Stone is used a lot on the island, with terraced hills and stone paths connecting villages. Tinos also has valuable minerals like marble, Verde antico, asbestos, and a granite mine near Volax.

Administration

View of the town of Tinos

Tinos is a special area in the South Aegean region. It is the only town or group of villages there. In 2011, the government changed, and Tinos became its own special area. It was made from parts of an older group called the Cyclades Prefecture. This change also created the town of Tinos from three smaller towns: Exomvourgo, Panormos, and Tinos (town).

Before, there was something called the province of Tinos. It covered the same land but was removed in 2006.

Climate

Tinos has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The island is known for strong, dry north winds called the etesians or meltemi winds. These winds blow from about mid-May to mid-September and are strongest in the afternoon. They can be hard for sailors because they appear suddenly in clear weather.

Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

High

14 °C

15 °C

16 °C

19 °C

22 °C

26 °C

28 °C

26 °C

23 °C

19 °C

15 °C

Low

10 °C

11 °C

13 °C

17 °C

21 °C

23 °C

24 °C

21 °C

19 °C

15 °C

12 °C

Precipitation

Winds in km/h

Transportation

Tinos has three ports. One is for fast passenger boats. The other two are for ferries and speedy boats that take people and cars to places like Mykonos, Piraeus, Rafina, Andros, and Syros.

There is a small airport, called a heliport, near Aghios Fokas beach. It is about 2 kilometers from the main town of Tinos. Regular buses help people travel between the town and other villages on the island.

Towns and villages

The village of Volax, postcard from 1907

Some of the towns and villages on the island of Tinos include Aetopholia, Agapi, Agia Varvara, Agios Fokas, Agios Romanos, and many more. Here are a few you might hear about: