5 Best Sights in Tinos Town, The Cyclades

The Tinians built the splendid Church of the Annunciate Virgin on this site in 1823 to commemorate finding a buried icon in the foundations of an old Byzantine church that once stood here. Imposing and grand, framed in gleaming yellow and white, it stands atop the town's main hill, which is linked to the harbor via Megalocharis, a steeply inclined avenue lined with votive shops. Half Venetian, half Cypriot in style, the facade has a distinctive two-story arcade and bookend staircases. Lined with the best marble from Tinos, Paros, and Delos and green veined Tinian stone, the church's courtyards are paved with pebble mosaics. Inside the upper three-aisle church dozens of beeswax candles and precious tin and silver work votives—don't miss the golden orange tree near the door donated by a blind man who was granted sight—dazzle the eye. There is often a wait in line to see the small icon, encrusted with jewels, that is said to have curative powers. To beseech the icon's aid, a sick person often sends a young female relative or a mother may bring her sick infant. As the pilgrim descends from the boat, they fall to their knees, with traffic indifferently whizzing about them, and they crawl painfully up the faded red carpet lane on the main street—1 km (½ mile)—to the church. In the church's courtyards, they pray to the magical icon for a cure, which sometimes comes. This ritual is very similar to the ancient one observed in Tinos's temple of Poseidon. The lower church, called the Evresis, celebrates the finding of the icon; in one room a baptismal font is filled with silver and gold votives, while the chapel to the left commemorates the torpedoing by the Italians, on Dormition Day, 1940, of the Greek ship Elli; in revenge the roused Greeks amazingly overpowered the Italians.

This long sandy beach is the closest organized beach to Tinos Town, and it's also the island's largest beach overall. The coastline is marked with natural shade from tamarisk trees, but beach chairs and umbrellas are readily available for rent during the summer. The main road behind the beach has a gathering of beach hotels, rooms, and tavernas. There are also a few beach bars and cafés along its 1½-km (1-mile) stretch. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: swimming; walking.

On the main street, near the church, is the small Archaeological Museum; its collection includes a sundial by Andronicus of Cyrrhus, who in the 1st century BC also designed Athens's Tower of the Winds. Here, too, are Tinos's famous huge, red storage vases, from the 8th century BC.

Founded in 2002, the Cultural Foundation of Tinos, housed in a large and splendid Neoclassical building at the south end of the quay, remains active in promoting the splendid art, history, and culture of the island. The center revolves around a full schedule of traveling exhibitions, lectures, performances, and other events. It has a permanent exhibit of work by Tinian sculptor, Iannoulis Chalepas. There’s also a nice café with harbor-front views.

Within walking distance of Tinos Town, this beach is a peaceful little corner of Tinos. One or two tavernas are nearby, but Stavros beach is really known for its fine sand and its beautiful surroundings. The turquoise waters remain clear, and shady green trees dot the area surrounding Agios Stavros, the pretty whitewashed church that gave the beach its name. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: sunset; swimming.