Island guides · The Islands
Tinos: pilgrims, marble and dovecotes
The back story
About Tinos: pilgrims, marble and dovecotes
Tinos is authentic and rewarding, with dozens of villages, marble craftsmen and one of the most important pilgrimage churches in Greece.
The pilgrimage
In 1823 a nun’s vision led to the discovery of an icon of the Virgin, and the church of Panagia Evangelistria was built to house it. On 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, pilgrims fill the island.
Marble
Tinian marble carving is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Pyrgos is the centre of the craft.
Tinos is where Greece comes to pray, to carve marble and to eat well.
Villages and food
More than 40 villages, dovecotes and the boulder landscape of Volax make Tinos a joy to explore by car. Its food scene is one of the strongest in the Cyclades.
Our advice: avoid 15 August unless you are a pilgrim; hire a car; visit Pyrgos and Volax; and use Rafina for the quickest crossing from Athens airport.
Why it's on our list
- Read before you go
- Who the island suits
- Our honest advice
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Tinos: pilgrims, marble and dovecotes before you go.