Culture of Tinos Island. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Tinos is one of the islands of the Cyclades Archipelago. This is a real paradise for fans of temple architecture. More than 800 churches, monasteries, and chapels are located in a small area. Most of them belong to the Orthodox branch of Christianity. However, about 200 churches and monasteries are Catholic. The island is considered a shrine of the Christian world. Thousands of pilgrims visit it every year to receive a blessing in the Church of the Virgin Mary. It is located in the town of Tinos.

Town of Tinos is one of the island's attractions. Many carved architectural structures made of marble are its distinctive features. There are magnificent fountains, richly decorated with ornaments, columns, and carved facades of ancient buildings here. According to legend, the famous Greek sculptor Phidias entrusted the secrets of his profession to the residents of Tinos. You should explore the exposition of the Archaeological Museum of Tinos to get acquainted with the culture of the inhabitants of the island. It is open from 10:00 to 16:00 every day, except Monday. The ticket is quite inexpensive.

Modern art fans should visit the island's art gallery. You can see the works of modern artists and artisans and even buy something for your home collection here. You can also visit the village of Falados. The annual exhibition of contemporary art in Greece takes place here in the summer. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

You should visit the villages of the island - the more, the better. You can do this by taking the bus in season. It runs between the main localities of the island. It is better to rent a car in the winter. The villages of Tinos are original. You will find unique historical monuments in almost every one of them. It is recommended to go to the village of Volax. Huge boulders are its features. Many of them are used as foundations for the homes of local residents. The village is quite large. There is a museum here. You can learn about the history of the region, see the works of local artisans, archaeological finds, and much more here. There is also a theater in Volax. Performances are regularly held in it. You can see the remains of the medieval culture of Greece in the village of Cobargo. Guests have the opportunity to wander through the ruins of a medieval fortress, see the ancient temple of Demeter, and buy souvenirs at the local shop.

You should definitely take a tour of the local temples. This is exactly the feature of the island for which almost all tourists come to it. You should definitely visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Tinos. It was built in 1823 on the spot where the miraculous icon of the epiphany of the Mary was revealed. This church is revered by all Christians in Greece. The Agia Triada Monastery is also located in Tinos. Fans of temple painting will appreciate its interior decoration and unique frescoes. The perfectly preserved iconostasis of the XVIII century is located in the Church of Taxiarchis.

You should also visit Catholic cathedrals. These are Agios Antonios and Agios Nikolaos in Tinos. Their decoration is strikingly different from Orthodox churches. The residence of the Archbishop of the island is located in the Catholic Church of Panagia Rosario. The Church is located in the village of Xinara. You should definitely visit the monastery of the order of the Ursulines of the 19th century. It is located in the village of Loutra. The folklore museum is located there today. This is the largest museum on the island.

The largest church on the island is located in Falatados. This is the Agia Triada. The Kehrovouni Monastery is located near the town of Tinos. It is a monument of the traditional Cycladic style of architecture. There is a Church of Saint Pelagia right there. She was a nun who pointed out the place of the appearance of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God. The monastery is active. About 50 nuns live in it.

Exoburgo is a must-visit landmark. This is the ruins of the ancient capital of the island. You will see the ancient temple of Demeter and Persephone, the ruins of a fortress that stood here in the middle ages. Archaeological excavations are still being carried out on the site of the settlement. The ruins of the most interesting temple of Poseidon and Amfitriti are preserved in the village of Kionia. The people of Tinos worshipped the fearsome Lord of the seas in the past. It is recommended to visit the Ellis monument. This is a symbol of grief dedicated to the victims of a shipwreck that occurred off the coast of the island.

You should definitely pay attention to the dovecotes. There are many of them on the island. They are located in the most unexpected places. Each of them has unique architecture and intricate patterns. Most of them are located in the village of Campos. There are almost 200 dovecotes there.

You should see the ancient aqueduct of Pisistratus. It was built in the VI century BC. It provided residents with fresh water until almost the middle of the twentieth century. You should definitely get to the village of Pyrgos. This is the center of the island's marble industry. Marble surrounds you everywhere here: buildings, fountains, sculptures, home decorations, and, of course, miniature and big items for sale in numerous stores. You should also visit the Museum of Marble Crafts.