TINOS

Tinos (from Greek Τήνος) is located just south of Andros, separated by a lake-like channel just over a kilometer wide. It can only be reached by sea because it does not have an airport. The island is 86 nautical miles from Piraeus, 64 from Rafina, and is connected to several other Cyclades.

It has an area of 195 km² and about 9000 inhabitants.

The island is predominantly mountainous and in its subsoil, there are precious marbles, particularly green marble. Unlike most of the Cyclades, Tinos is rich in water, its soil is fertile and is cultivated with orchards, especially pomegranates. The interior offers spectacular landscapes with plateaus, verdant valleys, streams, and, in summer, a beautiful bloom of oleanders. The highest mountain is Tsiknis (726 m). Its beaches, made of sand or pebbles, are pristine and sometimes hidden, and the island's villages are architecturally very beautiful.

The island is not very touristy and is mainly visited by Orthodox believers but also by many artists who have chosen it as their place of residence. In fact, the best sculptors and painters of the last two centuries were born in Tinos.

The population lives off agriculture, livestock, and especially the extraction of precious marble. Among the typical products of the island are the excellent and aromatic honey, woven baskets, and ceramics.

The capital of the island is white Tinos, where the main port is located.

Tinos remained under Venetian rule for a very long time, and still, a good part of the inhabitants are Catholic.

The sea of the island is very clean, and its coasts are often beaten by the winds (in ancient times it was believed that the god of the winds lived in Tinos).

The road network is quite good and expanding, but many beaches are still accessible only via footpaths or by scooter. The island's towns are all reachable by local buses, as are the most famous beaches. There are several car and scooter rental services, as well as a taxi service.