MUSEUM TOURS

It is time to think about destinations for the holidays or getaways that can offer us more than just sun and beach. Tinos is a perfect example of sun and beach, but it is also an island full of life that has lots to offer and a remarkable profile in arts and culture. In addition to touring beautiful villages, savoring the exquisite local cuisine or enjoying the luxury of your suite in Kardiani, it is possible to experience the island’s strong cultural scene by taking a tour through its museums.

Learn more about the cultural background of the island by visiting:

• Archeological Museum. Located in the heart of ‘‘Chora’’, at the central road that leads to the Church of Virgin Mary, the museum houses statues from the archaic and classical periods, ceramics and relics and amphorae dating back to 700 B.C. It also features items discovered from the excavations at Xomburgo and the Temple of Poseidon.
• House of Yannoulis Chalepas. Yannoulis Chalepas was born in Pyrgos in 1851. He has been recognized as the most important neo-classical Greek sculptor. The museum in Pyrgos is in the house where he was born and showcases sculptures and personal items.
• Cultural Foundation of Tinos. Tinos, motherland of many great Modern Greek artists, is the home of the congress and exhibition center of the Cultural Foundation of Tinos. Purpose of the foundation is to conduct and promote research about the Tinos’ history, art, culture and traditions. This neoclassic building hosts various congresses and exhibitions.
• Mausoleum of Elli. This is found at the area of the Church of Evangelistria. In August 1940 when celebrating the birthday of Virgin Mary, an Italian submarine torpedoed the war-ship “Elli” which had anchored outside the port to attend the festivities. It immediately sank and that signaled the war between Greece and Italy. A monument can also be found at the entrance of the old port.
• Costas Tsoclis Museum. The main aim of the newly established museum is to promote awareness of Costas Tsoclis’s work, so that the general public can be brought to contact with his contemporary art.
• Museum Of Marble Crafts. Created and managed by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, the Museum of Marble Crafts at Pyrgos was officially inaugurated in May 2008. Housed in modern premises, this thematic museum offers a unique example in Greece of presenting the technology of carving marble.