Travel Guide Tinos Chora - Χωρα

The arrival at the port of Tinos is not particularly spectacular: on the seafront, hotels a little old-fashioned and without much charm follow one another. Most of them accommodate pilgrims who come from all over Greece to pay homage to the miraculous Virgin and do penance.Not to be missed: a long red carpet starts from the port and goes up to the church of the Panaghia Evangelistria in overhang. This imposing building, built entirely of white marble, was built in 1823 on the site where an icon of the Virgin was discovered following a vision of Saint Pelagia. It is an astonishing sight of piety to see all these visitors, many of them elderly women, walking on their knees, and often in full sunlight, to the church.The surroundings of the church are largely dedicated to the cult of the Virgin: stores of candles, ex-voto and religious souvenirs. However, the alleys of Chora also rustle with another form of life, this one quite earthly and carnal, largely dedicated to gastronomy. You will find a series of beautiful grocery stores selling delicious local culinary specialties as well as pleasant restaurants. The main town of Tinos is authentically alive because it lives all year round, without always depending on tourism. It is a real small town, an active port and not a seaside resort.