Tinos, Cyclades, Greece

Tinos

Tinos lies very close to the southern tip of Andros. This is the holy island of Our Lady, which in August is swamped by pilgrims who have come to pray in Her church or in fulfillment of a vow. As Our Lady's feast day on 15 August approaches, the church and the town of Tinos become crammed with people, and religious services take place next to the commercial fair being held in the surrounding beaches.

A line of mountains, whose highest pick is Mt. Tsiknias ( in the myths, the home of the wind-god Aeolos ), runs the length of the island. On its lower slopes, walls like the fortifications of old castles divide the terraced fields. The coast of the island is mostly steep, but there are also numerous coves with sandy or pebbly beaches. Among the special characteristics of Tinos are its dove - cotes. These structures developed from simple roosts of pigeons into works of art - and the stone-built fountains to be seen in the villages evolved in a similar manner.

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