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Tinos is a beautiful island which hides its beauties under a veil, with a strong religious spirit and fanatical faith, but also with a critical spirit, curious names and untouched villages inside the island.

Loutra, Perastra and Komi

Loutra is located in the centre of the island. It is clean and quiet, with very few inhabitants in the winter. Like the majority of villages here, this one is also Catholic. The monastery of the Jesuits is closed, but you can enter the Monastery of the Ursulines. The Ursuline sisters appeared as a community in 1535, and after several decades they became a monastic order. They came to Tinos in 1862. Their multi-storey monastery complex in Loutra is huge and full of various thematic rooms, devoted to weaving, natural history, pharmacy, etc.

The Gorge of Perastra offers paradisiacal landscapes. Only 12 people live here in the winter. Not far from Perastra, in Komi, the Catholic parish church of St. John is amazing and invites you to sit and enjoy the view.

Painters and sculptors in Pyrgos

Lemon trees and oaks do not play a major role in one of the most famous villages of Tinos, but painters and sculptors do. A number of artists come from Pyrgos, such as Dimitris Filipotis, Nikiforos Litras, and of course Yanoulis Chalepas – the greatest sculptor of modern Greece.

The museums of Loutra

There are 2 museums in Loutra. The first one is ethnographic. It is located in the monasteries of the Jesuits and includes various exhibits (phone: 6945 632 502). The second one is in the Monastery of the Ursulines where you will find workshops of all kinds, as well as cells and the balcony of the choir (phone: 6973 254 927).

The art of marble in Pyrgos

A little further out from the centre of Pyrgos, you will find a museum of marble art. It belongs to the network of thematic museums of the Cultural Foundation of Piraeus and can compete with Athenian museums. There, you can learn about the industry of Tinos and technology of marble, and see marble ornaments, vessels, lifting equipment, drawings and much more. It is worth exploring the museum with the help of a guide. (Phone: 22830-31290, www.piop.gr).

The Church of Poseidon in Kionia

Kionia is not exactly a village, but rather a suburb of Chora. At the archaeological site, which is open to the public, you will see the Church of Poseidon (built in the 4th century BC), in which pilgrims stopped on their way to the island of Delos.

Basket weaving in Volaka

The main asset of Volaka is volcanic rocks, and the second – masters who weave baskets. If you want handmade baskets from willow branches, visit the workshops in the area, including that of Joseph Vidou (phone: 6932 515 627) or the one of Loudovikos (phone: 6939 482 780).

Tinian cakes in Tripotamos

The famous Halaris confectionery is located in Tripotamos. Be sure to try the traditional “pasteles” with lemon rind, cookies, almond cookies, and, of course, "tsimbiti" which are delicious sweet pastries (phone: 22830-21152, www.halarisgroup.com).

Acquaintance with St. Pelagia and the Kechrovouni monastery

Nun St. Pelagia, who, according to the tradition, had a vision of the Virgin Mary showing where her icon was buried, lived in the monastery near Arnados. Believers flock to Kechrovouni, and there is a great holiday on 23 July, when the icon is transferred from Chora to the monastery for a day, accompanied by believers.

Churches in Kardiani, Monastiria and Agapi

The Catholic Church of the Virgin Kioura is located in Kardiani. It is a magnificent church, with pale-green walls. The church of St. Joseph is located in Monastiria. It is a vivid place in a village with no inhabitants. Visit the church of St. Sophia in Agapi – you will have to climb high, but it is worth the effort, since it is a church of rare beauty.

How to get there

It is easy to get to Tinos by ferry from Rafina or Piraeus. Prices range from 24 euro to 48 euro.

Where to stay

Elia, in Agios Romanos is in the Cycladic style, built of Tinian stone. It provides 2 apartments and 2 studios (Phone: 6942 670 795, www.eliatinos.com).

The Porto Rafael complex is located in Agios Ioannis, near the sea. It was awarded by Tripadvisor in 2013 (the hotel opened in mid-May, phone: 22830-23913, www.portoraphael.com).

Another Tripadvisor-awarded hotel is the Vincenzo Family Hotel, phone: 22830-25888. www.vincenzo.gr.

Favie Susanne is located in the centre of Chora, opposite the Arapaki park (phone: 22830-22693).

What to eat