Tinos island, site of the most important port in the cyclades has changed hands many times through history. Today, marble mined on Tinos island makes it home to many artists. This Greek island is noted for its annual celebration commemorating a miracle.

Tinos Greece is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, part of the Cycladic archipelago, 78 nautical miles southeast of Athens. It has had name changes through history, including being called Ophiussa, for the snakes, and Hydroessa, for the water. Aristophanes called it Skordoforos for the quality of the garlic grown here.

The Cyclades Islands are most likely remnants of an ancient mountain chain that once connected Greece to Asia Minor. Historically, Tinos island has been inhabited by the Phoenicians, Ionians, Athenians, Macedonians and Romans. Tinos island was named for the first settler, Tinos. After Roman times, Tinos Greece became a possession of the Byzantine Empire. It was a remote colony, and the target of numerous pirate raids by Turks, Arabs, Saracens, Sicilians, Huns and Goths. Along with all this civil uproar, Tinos island in Greece was geologically challenged, being the site of frequent, very destructive earthquakes. And to further add to the chaos, epidemics plagued the population. Tinos Greece has never been geared so much for development as for survival.

The feudal Byzantine system, with knights owing lands slaved over by peasants, was replaced when the Venetians took over in the 1200's. By the 1700's, this Greek island was part of the Ottoman Empire.

After the Turkish invasion, Tinos island was relatively free of restrictions placed on the people of nearby islands. The people of Tinos Greece were allowed to wear traditional garb, not being forced to wear a fez. They also built their own schools and churches. In fact, Turkish boats did not land on this island without he permission of the people.

Today Tinos island has a population of about 8000. It is famed for its 20 windmills, 1,000 dovecotes, 50 villages. It is noted as a place where Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic peacefully coexist.

Tinos island's capital, Ermoupoli, is quite unique. It is the one of the most important port in the archipelago. Much of this Greek island's success is due to marble. A noted, beautiful green marble is mined here, as is asbestos and granite.

Marble brings artists, and indeed, Tinos is an art center. Many sculptors and painters live and work on the island. Tinos is sometimes referred to as Small Paris.

Perhaps the artists are inspired by the unique and varied landscape and many beaches on the island. Or maybe it's the the highest mountain, Mt. Tsiknias, and the quaint village it protects...or maybe it's the nearby area. scattered with boulders, some the size of multistory houses.

The people of Tinos Greece remain inspired by a miracle, and they commemorate that miracle every August 15, the Feast of the Assumption. On 15 August 1940, the people were celebrating and the ship, Elli, was in the harbor, fully decorated. An Italian submarine sneaked into the harbor, attacked and sank the ship, because Greece had broken diplomatic ties with fascist Italy. But, the Italians had also fired two more torpedoes, aimed right at the piers, crowded with people. Neither torpedo detonated, sparing the people. This miracle was attributed to the Virgin Mary and every year the people of Tinos Greece remember, and celebrate.

Here are also a couple of more travel tips which can help you out while visiting Greece

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by S Pappas greekinfo@gmail.com

Apartments rooms in Athens Greece Self catering accommodation.