by Frances Stanford

Created on: January 26, 2010

As the third largest of the Cycladic Islands of Greece, Tinos is perhaps the most beautiful of them all. There are almost 10,00 people living on this island that measures about 121 square miles and the majority of them still follow the traditional lifestyle of their forefathers. It does not have a well-developed tourist industry and for this reason does not see a large number of tourists each year. Yet it is a delightful island on which you can have a very relaxing vacation.

For the people of Greece, a visit to Tinos is an essential part of life because it is the location of the Church of the Evangelistra. Many pilgrimages take place to this church, which is reputed to be the sight of many miraculous cures. Even though it is a small island, there are 799 other churches throughout the countryside. One of these is the Church of the Annunciate Virgin which stands on top of the main hill in the town of Chora.

Chora, which dates back to the 5th century B.C.  is the main town on the island. Near the Church of the Annunciate Virgin, you can visit the Archaeological Museum. Here you will see a sundial dating back to the 1st century A.D. It was designed by Andronicus of Cyrrhus, the designer of the Tower of the Winds in Athens. There is a fascinating display of red vases dating back to the 8th century.

Visit the Holy Cross Chapel located in an enticing copse of pine trees. There are vendors in this location serving the traditional snacks of the island, such as fried cheese and the traditional drink – ouzo. The beach in this location is great for swimming and is the perfect setting for a romantic walk at sunset.

The Cultural Center is perhaps the most modern building in Chora. It is the venue for many travelling exhibitions and has a permanent exhibition of the sculptures of Iannoulis Chalepas.

From the town of Chora, the night sky is lit by the lights of the villages high in the hills surrounding the town. During the day you can take side trips from Chora to visit some of these villages along the winding road that passes by fields of crops. Kechrovouni, which was founded in the 10th century, has the nickname of the “village of nuns.” There are several churches and buses take people here on pilgrimages. Arnados is a village high in the mountains – 1600 feet above sea level. Its vaulted streets look down on Chora. Here you can visit the Ecclesiastical Museum with its collections of religious icons from local churches.

Between the towns of

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