Tínos

Tínos is renowned throughout Greece as a holy island, the place where one of the country’s most sacred icons, of the Virgin Mary, is housed. The icon, known as Our Lady of Tínos, was found in 1822, and thanks to its supposed healing powers the island almost sinks under the weight of pilgrims who visit around August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption. The Church of Panagia Evengelistria, where the icon can be found, is the focus of events, with some pilgrims approaching the church on their knees. There’s more to Tínos than just its religious pulling powers, though, as it’s a beautiful island with lots of rugged hills, and villages clinging to ...

Tínos is renowned throughout Greece as a holy island, the place where one of the country’s most sacred icons, of the Virgin Mary, is housed. The icon, known as Our Lady of Tínos, was found in 1822, and thanks to its supposed healing powers the island almost sinks under the weight of pilgrims who visit around August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption. The Church of Panagia Evengelistria, where the icon can be found, is the focus of events, with some pilgrims approaching the church on their knees. There’s more to Tínos than just its religious pulling powers, though, as it’s a beautiful island with lots of rugged hills, and villages clinging to the sides of those hills. There’s a ruined Venetian fortress at Exobourgo, some archaeological remains, several fine beaches, and a landscape dotted with some unusual features for Greece – decorative dovecotes. Another of Tínos’s claims to fame is the quality of its unusual green marble, and there are still workshops today where you can admire and perhaps purchase this unusual souvenir.

About the Expert

Mike Gerrard is the author of the National Geographic Traveler Guide to Greece, as well as guides to Athens, Crete, Corfu, the Greek Mainland, and the Greek islands for publishers including AA, AAA, Thomas Cook, Dorling Kindersley, Michelin, and New Holland. With his wife Donna Dailey, he also publishes the Greece Travel Secrets website.