Visiting the island of Tinos (Volacus, Vaptistis and Angela Rougeri)

By Olga Antoniadou

Tinos is a hidden gem discovered all the more in recent years but retains its character and authenticity. The seat of the god of the winds, Aeolos, and, oh, oh, oh, did he blow fiercely when I was visiting in late July. But, with the heat of the summer, this was so welcoming and refreshing (not to mention that it kept all the blood-sucking mosquitoes and flies away). In Greece, it is an island known to most for the Orthodox Church of Mother Mary that is close to the main harbour and features in the main town; majestic is the least that can be said, but the profound beauty of the island is its villages. Larger or smaller, each more beautiful than the next, and there are many. For the nine days we stayed, we must have walked to three or four different villages every day, many we did not get to see. The arid-looking landscape has a haunting effect, the huge round rocks of Volakas and Falatados, the numerous hiking trails, the lovely pigeon houses, so much a part of local architecture, what a place!