Tinos The natural landscape of Tinos is composed of strange and varied geological formations. The windswept island rises from the sea in the centre of the archipelago, to the north of the other Cycladic islands. The Aegean traveller, who disembarks in Tinos, will want to pay his respects to the Blessed Virgin, at the Greek Orthodox shrine before setting out on the exploration of the interior. There, he will find the island’s unique natural and historical heritage preserved in many scattered settlements. They cling to mountainsides, perch on the side of ravines or cluster on small plateaus. They remain small communities of hardy farmers and skilled craftsmen for whom the island has always been noted. In these villages, the traveller will discover how Catholics and the Orthodox coexist harmoniously. The Tinos journey through place and time takes the traveller along a network of stone-paved tracks and paths connecting the settlements. It leads to remoter shrines and barely accessible shores. The walker communes with the Tinos landscape and discovers the hidden nature of the island. He comes across the history of the place and, at the same time, experiences the hospitality and the gregarious nature of the islanders . There are countless examples of human creativity that span time from pre-history to today, spread out before him. He will see the remains of prehistoric settlements, ruins of ancient towns, sanctuaries and towers from the Historic period, Christian monuments and medieval fortifications. The island of Tinos seems
to be held together with dry stonewalls. Local craftsmen realised very
early the important role that stone would play in the shaping of its
history. They passionately embraced its body of stone and brought it
to life! With master hands, they hewed the stone and made fine works
from the small domestic artefacts to the most complex buildings. Craftsmen
moulded their living and work spaces into shape as they wisely combined
the island’s natural resources with the community’s daily
needs.
|
