Tinos is a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea. It is located in the Cyclades archipelago. In antiquity, Tinos was also known as Ophiussa (Greek for snake) and Hydroessa (Greek for water).

Tinos is famous amongst Greeks for the Church of Panagia Evangelistria, its 80 or so windmills, about 1000 artistic dovecotes (a structure intended to house pigeons or doves), 50 active villages and its Venetian fortifications at the mountain, Exobourgo. On Tinos, both Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic populations co-exist, and the island is also well known for its famous sculptors and painters, such as Nicholaos Gysis, Yannoulis Chalepas and Nikiforos Lytras.

The island is located near the geographical center of the Cyclades island complex, and because of the Panagia Evangelistria church, with its reputedly miraculous icon of Virgin Mary, Tinos is also the center of a yearly pilgrimage that takes place on the date of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on August 15. This is perhaps the most notable and still active yearly pilgrimage in the region of the eastern Mediterranean. Many pilgrims make their way the 800 metres from the ferry wharf to the church on their hands and knees as sign of devotion.
Tinos is only 45 minutes away by boat from Mykonos and being three times larger it has much to offer:

1. The women’s monastery Kechrovouni high, up in the mountains which is inhabited by 40 nuns
2. The traditional village Volax, home to the basket makers
3. The valley of the pigeon houses from the Venetian time
4. Pirgos, the center of the marble arts
5. The peaceful fishing bay of Panormos with its lovely fish taverns

NOTE WHEN VISITING THE CHURCH AND MONASTERY THERE ARE STRICT CLOTHING RULES: SLEEVELESS SHIRTS AND SHORTS ARE NOT PERMITTED. MEN MUST WEAR LONG TROUSERS THAT GO BELOW THE ANKLE.

DAYS OF OPERATION: Tuesday, Friday
MEETING POINT: NEW PORT IN TOURLOS, MYKONOS at 11:30 AM
TRANSFER AVAILABLE TO MEETING POINT ON REQUEST: $6 PER PERSON ONE WAY SHORT TRIP or $13 PER PERSON PER, ONE WAY LONG TRIP

NOTE: Less than 6 people excursion is cancelled