1.Falatados -[Mirsini]- Manganari - Plati - Livadha - Faros Livadha (Livadha Lighthouse)

On this route, the walker has the choice of two different paths starting either at the Pano Meri (Upper Meri) village, Falatados one of the largest and most important in Tinos, or at Mirsini, a lively agricultural village.
The two paths, mainly stone-paved, cross areas with many Mediterranean trees such as Nerio tamaricetea, oak (Quercus macrolepis), and box elder as well as interesting, picturesque chapels. The path from Falatados follows a river-bed for two-thirds of the way through banks of rich vegetation mainly of plane and oak trees.There are remains of old water-mills along the path on the northern edge of the ravine. From Aldakia to Plati there are countless weathered rocks.
The two paths meet at the idyllic Manganari and continue to Plati and then to the fertile Livadha. From here the walker may follow the road to the nearby unspoilt shore or continue along the path from the Livadha Panagia (Blessed Virgin) church towards the lighthouse, ending up at the north-eastern tip of Tinos.
The path that is used today by many farmers with their donkeys and mules is currently marked as far as Manganari.

2.Xinara - Xombourgo - Koumaros - Skalados - Krokos - Smardakito - Tarambados - Kambos - Loutra - Perastra.

Starting at Xinara, the seat of the Xombourgo Municipality, and with Xomborgo as its focal point, this route connects nine villages. All built on green slopes with their folk architecture untouched, they make a circle around the basin that discharges water into the Komi valley. Situated in the centre of the basin is Loutra (Baths), which, together with Xinara, makes up the nucleus of the Tinos Catholic community.
This is shown by the comparatively very large building complexes comprising the Naxos-Tinos Catholic Archbishop’s palace (Xinara), the Ursuline Convent and the Jesuit Monastery (Loutra). The springs that feed the Perastra-Komi ravine account for the thick vegetation in places. The landscape provides a perfect backdrop for the man-made features found along the route e.g. settlements, dovecots, unusual chapels, bridges, watermills, threshing circles and olive-presses, stone paved paths.
Springs, cafeneions and tavernas all provide the opportunity to quench one’s thirst. It is worth visiting the St.Eleni (Helen) Castro (Castle) at Xombourgo, the archives of the Catholic Archbishop’s palace at Xinara and the Agricultural Museum at the Jesuit Monastery.
Restoration work, sign-posting and marking are underway at several points along the circular route.

1809 – Markakis Zalonis:

“An hour and a half walk from St.Nicholas, towards the interior and high on a mountain, the highest on the island, is Borgo, which was once the stronghold, due more to its natural position than to its construction.
Today the fortifications are in ruins and Borgo completely abandoned. The rock on which it is situated, is 840 piches (old measure of length: 1 pichi=64 cms) above sea level. The most precipitous part is above Xinara and is called “Petasos” which means cliff. The cistern is on the way to Petasos. The rock here is lead grey, very like compact slate.
Today’s village of “Exombourgo” is on the mountain slope about ten minutes walk below Borgo. During the period of Venetian domination, at times of peace with Turkey, this was the place of residence for the nobility and the wealthy. In times of war they took refuge in the Borgo stronghold. There are many fine houses in the village but most of them are almost ruined or uninhabited. For all that, amongst these remains are the old families of nobles who ruled the island during the Venetian domination. Among these descendants we met, even today, people of rare worth such as the Betti brothers, grandsons of the celebrated lawyer who Tournefort mentions, also Fouskarnakis and Frangiscos Gasparakis, both sons of Michelakis, the doctor. The house of the Latin clergyman is found in Xombourgo, as well as three beautiful churches. Three quarters of the village is Catholic, and the rest, Orthodox”.

3. Moni Kechrovouniou - Mountados - Smberados - Tripotamos - Xombourgo.

This is a route that can be walked in either direction, and which connects two of the largest places of worship and historical monuments in Tinos, the Orthodox Our Lady of the Angels Convent at Kechrovouni and the Catholic Monastery of the Sacred Heart at Xombourgo. It takes the walker to picturesque villages, past springs and a stone bridge.
After Tripotamos the route follows the old stone-paved road from Xombourgo and, after a certain point, becomes part of that ancient road. Close to Xombourgo the walker can see the remains of the Geometric and Archaic city, its walls and its temples.

4. Kionia - [Hatzirados] - Ktikados - Smourdia - Vari - Poles - Hora.

This route can be split into smaller walks such as Ktikados-Kionia, Xatzirados-Kiona, Smourdia-Vari-Poles-Hora. The latter follows the ancient stone-paved Hora to Xombourgo road, especially the section from Tripotamos to Hora. Just before Hora, at Poles, the route runs parallel to the walls of ancient Tinos (of the Classical-Hellenistic years), and very close to the remains of the city’s Pesistratus aqueduct.
The other two walks connect the very picturesque villages of Ktikados and Hatzirados with the valley and the coast of Kionia (where the walker may visit the archaeological site of the Poseidon and Amphitriti temple), crossing an area with a wonderful view of the sea. The walker walks through trees passing old drinking fountains and stone-bridges.
As a complete walk this route connects Ktikados with Hora, passing through old, now ruined Ktikados, and, at Smourdia, meets the stone-paved Xombourgo-Hora road.
At the south-western edge of Tripotamos the island’s central asphalt road meets the above Xombourgo-Hora road. Here the walker joins the route and may choose between walking to Hora or to the villages Ktikados-Hatzirados-Kionia.

5. Falatados (Kathlicados) - Volax - Griza - Sklavohorio - Agapi.

Setting out from the tiny village of Cathlikados, which is part of Falatados, the walker passes from Pano (Upper) to Kato (Lower) Meri, after visiting the village of Volax.
The landscape is impressive, largely composed of the weathered plutonic rock (the peculiar granite formations).
The village of Volax, influenced by this landscape, is a monument of local architecture. It is well-known for its basket makers who used this footpath to take their wares to the Falatados market.
The route follows the Agapi ravine for quite a long way through hollyoaks, mastic, oleanders and other vegetation. The track branches of towards Sklavohorio,
home of the painter, Nikos Gizis, while the main path ends at Agapi. Both these villages are examples of plastic architecture that emphasizes their many vaulted archways.

6. Mirsini - Profitis Elias (Prophet Elijah) - Summit of Tsiknias.

After Mirsini the route follows the asphalt Steni-Mirsini road. At Almassouria the walker should take the footpath towards Xokopi which will leading to the foot of Tsiknias.
The ascent begins at Marmara and zig-zags upwards to Pano (Upper Tsiknias as far as the Prophet Elijah chapel. From here the route continues along a small plateau until it reaches the summit.
Tsiknias is known as the “Yirai Petrai” (Round Stones) of ancient times. According to mythology this was the dwelling place of Aeolus, the god of the winds, and the burial place of Zetes and Calais, sons of Boreas (the north wind).
The whole of eastern Tinos can be seen from the summit as well as all the nearby islands. Brushwood (Sacropoterium spinosum) and sparse scrub-oak (Quercus coccifera) predominate on the mountain.

7. Steni - Potamia - Marouli - Lichnaftia.

The downhill path towards Potamia, starts at Steni which is the capital village of Pano (Upper) Meri, as well as the capital of the Orthodox quarter with its notable St. Andonios parish church. Potamia, facing east, is above the confluence of the three ravines.
Traditional and picturesque, it has, among other things, a wonderful spring with washing place, and a rakitzio (raki-still) at Xinari.
The route continues along the Tartari footpath with a stone bridge and distinctive dovecotes. It leads to Marouli, a beautiful, fertile place with gardens, orchards and chapels, on the southern slopes of Tsiknias.
After the route crosses the Neromilos area (with old settlement and water-mill), it ends at the unspoilt Lichnaftia coast.

8. Dhio Horia (Two Villages) - Kounares - Agios Ioannis (St.John) Porto

A stone path leads down from the lowest spring (xinari*) in Dhio Horia(the highest village on the island and of great architectural interest) towards the Mandalou grazings. The walker has a panoramic view of the horizon as he passes the important Faneromeni monastery and arrives at Kounares. This is a place of rare beauty with ancient rural settlements and buildings.
The route continues and meets the asphalt road and ends at the attractive harbour of Agios Yiannis Porto.

*xinari= drinking water spring and troughs for washing and watering animals.

Walks in Western Tinos

9. Kalloni - Aetofolia (Eagle Nest) - Koris Pyrgos - Stavria - Moni Katapoliani - Platia - Pyrgos.

This long route connects Kato (Lower) with Oxo (Outer) Meri, mainly following the old mule track parallel to the northern coastline. Even though in some places, the route joins the Kalloni - Pyrgos road, it is of great cultural interest. Immediately after Aetofolia (Eagle’s Nest), it comes to the village’s picturesque xinari-spring, a stone bridge and the sites of the Anargiri Saints and Pyrgia with the remains of Hellenistic towers and other ancient buildings.
At Koris Pyrgos the wild landscape (the Halakia ravine) and the layout of rural settlements built upon ancient foundations are quite breathtaking.
The walker, before arriving at the Cistercian Panagia Katapoliani Monastery (18th Century), comes to another rural hamlet of Stavria. Platia, a small pleasant village before Pyrgos, is not far. The walk down to Pyrgos introduces the traveller to the largest village of Tinos, with its long tradition of marble sculpting, and birthplace of the most famous Tiniot artists. The Museum of Halepas and Panormitis Artists, the School of Fine Arts, marble fountains etc, add beauty to this village of fine marble.
The lovely Platanos square awaits the walker for rest and reward for all the effort.

10. Kardiani- Isternia -[Isternia Bay]- Vernardhados - Pyrgos - Marlas - Mamados.

This Oxo Meri route follows part of the old Oxo Meri Agia Marina - Kionia - Hora muletrack. The walk begins at Kardiani , situated above a fertile ravine with a view of the Aegean, and runs parallel with and above the asphalt Kardiani-Isternia road. Isternia, in a similar position to Kardiani, is a typical marble village with the Museum of Isternia Artists to celebrate the work of its sculptors. A fork off the route leads along a fine stone-stepped track to the harbour of Isternia (Isternia Bay).
The next stop before Pyrgos is the small village of Vernardhados. After Pyrgos, the route continues to Marlas and Mamados, famous for their fine craftsmen.

1809 – Markakis Zalonis:

A small distance from the Agios Ioannis harbour, and virtually opposite Mykonos, the sea is very deep. Near this place, high rocky mountains rise from a ravine that is open to the sea and that cuts someway inland. The slightest wind causes tempestuous air currents to rush through the channel, making the place, known as Tsiknias, very dangerous.
Sailors who know of the dangers, always lower their sails even when the weather is calm, so that they are always prepared to cope with violent and unexpected storms.