Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
gious wares. On one side of Leoforos Megalocharis you'll see a rubberised strip used by
pilgrims crawling towards the church and pushing long candles before them. Religion
certainly takes centre stage in Hora (woe betide the tourist looking for a room on one of
the high holy days), but the town still hums with the vibrancy of a low-key island port
Sights
Church of Panagia Evangelistria
CHURCH
( 22830 22256;
www.panagiatinou.gr
; 8am-8pm)
Tinos' highly revered religious
focus is the neoclassical Church of the Annunciation and its sacred icon of the Virgin
Mary. The hallowed icon was found in 1822 on land where the church now stands after a
nun in Tinos, now St Pelagia, was visited by visions from the Virgin instructing her
where to find the icon. From the start, the icon was said to have healing powers, thus en-
couraging mass pilgrimage. Our Lady of Tinos became the patron saint of the Greek na-
tion.
As you enter the church, the icon is on the left of the aisle, and is totally draped in jew-
els. The church, which is built of marble from the island's Panormos quarries, lies within
a pleasant courtyard flanked by cool arcades. The complex has sweeping views all
around and three excellent
museums
( 8am-4pm Tue-Fri, 9am-5pm Sat, 10am-2pm Sun)
which house religious artefacts, icons and secular art.
Cultural Foundation of Tinos
GALLERY
( 22830 29070;
www.itip.gr
; adult/child & student €3/free; 10am-3pm Mon, Wed-Sat, also
Sun in summer)
This excellent cultural centre in a handsome neoclassical building on the
southern waterfront houses a superb permanent collection of the work of famous Tinian
sculptor Yannoulis Chalepas. A second gallery has rotating exhibitions. Musical events
are staged in summer. There's a shop and harbourfront
cafe
.
Archaeological Museum
MUSEUM
( 22830 22670; Leoforos Megalocharis; admission €2; 8am-3pm Tue-Sun)
Near the church,
this museum has a collection that includes impressive clay
pithoi
(Minoan storage jars).
