PANO MERIA

The medieval architecture side of the island

Every village a trip in history

“Pano Meria” is the medieval architecture side of the island. This is the place where the landscape changes and the sights of the Middle Ages are still very obvious, surrounded by green creeks and steep slopes.

In Pano Meria there is the oldest church in the island. The Catholic Church “Timios Stavros” stands high and haughty since the 17th century.

With a long tradition in education, the first school of Tinos kept running in Mountados till the end of the 19th century, while in Arnados there was a “secret school”.

In Tripotamos, on the foothills of Mount Exombourgo, among three rivers, the cheese factory of Tinos is situated and produces the traditional cheese of the island.

  • Natural Environment:
  • Museums/ Culture
  • Sports/ Athletics
  • Gastronomy

GUIDE

The most complete guide to places to stay, attractions to visit and specialities to taste and enjoy in Exo Meria, in order to turn your visit into an enjoyable experience.

Accommodation

Either you choose an apartment or a studio, you’ll enjoy a picturesque and private stay and get in touch with nature on the side.

Local Products

Don’t leave Pano Meria without buying a basket made of willow, Tinian wine produced in Falatados, nougat from Chalaris pastry shop in Tripotamos and of course local cheese from the cheese factory in Triantaros.

Food

Homemade food, the best tavern in Steni, special cheese and cheese pies in Triantaros, unique fried food in Agapi and local wine are only a few of the delicious dishes you should taste.

Entertainment

Ideal for sneakers and hiking in well- preserved marked routes as well as gastronomy routes. In the traditional cafe of Falatados there’s a jukebox which turns the cafe into a tavern with music and you are the dj.

SUGGESTIONS

We’ve chosen and present you the best accommodation, restaurants cafes and shops of Exo Meria. Discover them!

Aeolis
Tinos Suites

Welcome to a view of Cyclades

Aeolis Tinos Suites

I searched the Aegean Sea for 20 years for the idyllic island getaway.  Then one day in my little boat, as if driven by the wind itself, I found her – Tinos Island, the undiscovered jewel of the Cyclades.  I was taken aback by the wind, serenity, hospitality and well-preserved old charm of Tinos and its picturesque villages.  The aroma of the sea mixed with orange blossoms and the clear brightness of the sun left me feeling light and liberated…I felt at home.


Tutti Blu

Cultural Heritage and Traditional Knowledge

Tutti Blu

The position of the house, as well as the philosophy of the island itself, encourages the travellers – visitors to engage with a series of activities that can compose an integrated experience for them. Apart from swimming in the crystal clear and fresh waters of the Aegean in nearby virgin beaches such as Santa Margarita, Lychnaftia, Livada, Pachia Ammos (15’-30’ drive) such activities may include hiking in the many preserved traditional footpaths, mountaineering, visiting the numerous picturesque small churches, the traditional vineyards and wineries, as well as participation in agricultural activities such as grape harvesting, spirit distilling and others. Finally, the excellent and pure local products and ingredients, in combination with the artistry of the Tinian cooks, have established the island as a proud gastronomic destination.


Ammos

Tinos Beach Hotel Restaurant

Ammos

AMMOS RESTAURANT

Traditional Cycladic Restaurant by the Sea.

steps away from the beach we await to serve you an authentic Cycladic experience. Sit back and relax and enjoy the full view of the sea in our white clad Aegean sanctuary, we will do the rest. Honoring the Tinian culinary heritage, we will bring to your table appetizers and traditional dishes served with a twist. Being a beachfront restaurant in the Aegean, we specialize in Seafood. For daily spearfished fish please call us.

Tinos
Eco Lodge

Eco-friendly tourist destination

Tinos Eco Lodge

The Eco Lodge is about providing an eco-friendly tourist destination on the island of Tinos, using the natural resources of Tinos island in a sustainable manner and creating an autonomous off-grid system for the houses. This means using renewable energy resources such as sun and wind as well as building with local materials, promoting and producing local products, minimizing and recycling our waste and promoting activities connected to the natural environment.


Beee

Grill

Beee

Exactly what its name implies (baa in English)! Here you will eat fine grilled meat! In a nice setting full of old objects for decoratives, two fireplaces and a verandah that looks straight at the sea, you will forget where you came from and where you are heading to!


Senmpolia

Since 1985

Senmpolia

After years of work & experience next to the best confectioners of their times, all of them based on traditional pastry making, we set up our first shop called SENMPOLIA in Tinos Town in 1985. In the course of these thirty years of hard work, the family business offered all love and will for strong work to this small production facility as well as to high quality product making.


T-OINOS

“The vineyard that talks”

T-OINOS

Strong winds, waterless soil and somewhere among the round granite boulders of Tinos - a bizarre island - you notice it.

“The vineyard that talks” and now...it speaks loudly all over the world.

Having produced 20.000 bottles per year with a potential to reach shortly 30.000 bottles and many international articles, the time is ripe for the « Tiniaki Ampelones» have gained the position richly deserved in the worldwide wine community.


Noufara

Pastry shop

Noufara

36 years ago, Kollarou family decides to have a lifetime change, leave Athens and return to the homeland. Later on, they create NOUFARA pastry shop, first in partnership and afterwards in family, thanks to the father’s great experience, who had worked for the best pastry shops in Athens (Serafidis, Toulipa, Delis, King’s George hotel etc.) as well as the mother’s silent support. Nowadays, the children are responsible for the shop while the parents remain important helpers in every endeavor.

Vaptistis
Winery

Tinos island in a bottle of wine

Vaptistis Winery

A NEW GENERATION OF WINEMAKERS

 Our origin from Tinos island, in the Cyclades, and our immense love of this beautiful place enabled us to get involved in the adventure of planting a new vineyard and starting wine production.

Our deliberate decision of only using indigenous Greek grape varieties led to the selection of those that adapt perfectly to our island’s terroir.


Mesklies

since 1975

Mesklies

Giorgos Foskolos and Fragiskos Amoiralis count more than 30 years of “pastry-making” presence in the island. In 1975, they leave Athens behind to move to Tinos and together start Mesklies, aiming at making people’s lives as sweet as they can.

Volacus
Wine

Tinos new wine label

Volacus Wine

The idea of Volacus Wine first started in 2010, when the first vineyard was planted in the area of Gardari, in Falatados village, by the Tinian Michalis Kontizas.

VILLAGES

Ktikado, Chatzirados, Tripotamos, Sperados, Karya, Tzados, Mountados, Triantaros, Berdemiaros, Dyo Choria, Arnados, Kechros, Pentostrato, Falatados, Steni, Myrsini, Potamia, Fero, Aghia Varvara

Ktikado

The route to “Pano Meria” begins at Ktikado village. The first impression of the village is the catholic church of “Timios Stavros” (Holy Cross) with the exquisite bell tower. It is said that it’s one of the oldest all across the island, as it dominates here since the 17th century. Walking along the neat settlement, you will encounter whitewashed traditional houses, with marble lintels and sculptural ornaments, typical Tinian arches, the old fountain on the square and the orthodox church of Megalomata (or Ypapanti) with the marvelous marble entrance.

Chatzirados

Located in a small distance from Ktikado, Chatzirados stands out for its picturesque beauty and its magnificent view to the sea. White houses with colourful flowery yards, paved alleys, a traditional coffee shop and the old church of the “Holy Trinity”, which dates back to the 15th century, reveal the grandeur of simplicity.

Tripotamos

We walk along the foot of Exambourgo. Among three rivers, you will feel like going back to medieval ages. Tripotamos will enchant you with its arches, steps and dark arcades. In the village you can find the cheese-dairy of the island, where the traditional cheese of Tinos is produced. You’ll also find some pottery workshops. Sperados is a small adjoining settlement to Tripotamos with nice houses and the old path.

Karya

Next station is Karya. Although it is now underpopulated, back during Venetian domination, it was an important village and later the wealthy citizens of Khora made it into their favourite place for their country houses. A leafy village with old mansions and a beautiful square, where you can enjoy the traditional greek coffee. You will also come across a unique protected municipal parkland. Regarding to the cultural map of Karya, the village a museum of folk art and an active cultural association of the community, which organises interesting cultural events.

Mountados

On your route you will find Mountados. The totally green settlement, which is officially referred to be traditional, counts already a thousand years of a “lifetime”. On the altitude of 300m, many wise men and Philosophers’ homeland, takes pleasure of the reputation of the place that has given prominence to the people that have shined in arts and education. In proof of that, it is mentioned that it’s one of the quite few villages where there was a school until the mid 19th century. Nowadays, Mountados represents the very best of the traditional Cycladic architecture, with the archways and domes, paved narrow step-ways, traditional houses of Tinos, the stone-built bridge and the church of Aghios Ioannis (1871).

Tzados

Built on the hillside of Kechrovouni, you will encounter the tiny village Tzados. Go up to its highest point and visit the church of “Aghia Anna”. Don’t miss the fountain with the old washers.

Triantaros

Our next stop is Triantaros, called “the balcony of Tinos” which is built amphiteatrically on the slope of Kechrovouni, has a marvelous view to Aghios Fokas from an altitude of 500m. As homeland of many famous stone craftsmen, it is full of traditional houses, innumerable arches and narrow alleys. Among the architectural ornaments, the church of the Holy Apostles as well as the traditional oil mill in Lefkes are included. The beauties of Triantaros had such a magical effect on foreigners that they decided to live permanently here.

Berdemiaros

In spite of its tiny size, our next village Berdemiaros, offers a magnificent view to Naxos, Paros, Syros, Delos and Mykonos. The “closeted” church of “Zoodochos Pigi” that boasts about its bell tower and the vivid fresco painting inside is worth a visit.

Dyo Choria

Dyo Choria are the settlements once separated by a little river, which later formed a beautiful village. The signs of Middle Ages are obvious here, too. Situated at an altitude of 450m above sea level, it is considered another “balcony of Tinos”. Thanks to its location on a green and fertile hillside, there are many natural resources, the so-called “xynaria”, as well as a centenarian plane tree standing on its big square.

Arnados

Arnados situated at an altitude of 450m, too, is the purely mountainous village of Tinos. Medieval arcades, traditional buildings, the fountain on the upper square and the churches of Ascension and Aghioi Anargiroi are the reasons why this village is worth a visit. Discover Panaidaki, hidden in an arcade. According to the legend, there used to be a secret school bellow that Ecclesiastical and Agricultural Museums are extra reasons to visit Arnados. The Monastery of Kerchrovouni is very close to the village.

Kechros

Kechros is next. This village was well known in the past for its “statourades”, which means saddle makers. The gorgeous church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa is a must-see of the area.

Pentostrato

We are already in the middle of the island, “Mesi” for the locals. This place is also called Pentostrato, the cross point of roads leading to all 4 destinations. At the entrance of the village one meets the parish, the church of the Archangels as well as the Monastery of St Francis. Don’t miss the Folklore Museum of Agricultural Tools.

Falatados

Falatados is the next village. It’s an old village dating from 1400. Dimitris Vlassis’ homeland, the worker who was the first to face the miraculous icon of Panaghia in 1823. In the village there is the old aqueduct, the so-called “Paliomantra” (it was built between 1750 and 1850). Here you will also find the houses of Sketch, the first sketch museum in the greater region of the Southeast Mediterranean, founded by the Mitropoulos Brothers. If you come in September, a period of many feasts on the occasion of raki production, don’t miss “Rakizio”, the great local festival.

Steni

One of the biggest villages in Tinos, is Steni. Built at the foot of the highest mountain on Tinos island. Tsiknias is a very “living” place throughout the year, with many taverns and cafeterias. You can visit the carpet making school and the folklore museum during summer during summer months. Wandering along the paved alleys, don’t miss the orthodox church of Aghios Antonios and the catholic one of Aghios Nikolaos.

Mesi Village

Traditional village of Mesi, in up-country Tinos Island, within the Cyclades, Greece. Mesi (the meaning of which in Greek is “in the middle”) sits literally in the middle between two of the bigger villages of the area, namely Falatados and Steni, in the plateau under the magnificent rocky hill of Xombourgo, where the ruins of a Venetian Castle, seat of the Venetian administration on the island during the Venetian Era lie.

Myrsini

Known to the locals as Mouslou, Myrsini is situated to the summit of Tsiknias, considered the residence of Aeolos. It’s an old settlement, ideal for those who love climbing or who want to admire its rare natural beauty. The three-aisled church of Evangelistria is magnificent with an excellent architectural layout.

Potamia

Potamia is an unexpectedly full of green village in a cycladic island. An isolated village, between ravines with running waters, that once powered the water mills of the area. It is built among three ravines of Tsiknias and the first to be seen by the morning sun. in the center of the village you will find the church of Panaghia Karmelitana.

Fero

Fero is a tiny settlement with only a few inhabitants. Those, who have chosen to live in this isolated ravine in the eastern part of Tinos, have the chance to gaze for hours across Mykonos island and Ikarian Sea.

Aghios Sostis

Our route to Pano Meria reaches to an end with Aghia Varvara village. It is named after the temple of Aghia Varvara. The most recently established settlement, right before Aghios Sostis beach, maybe the tiniest of the villages, but it already has its place in the touristic map of the island, as you can find here several restaurants and rooms to let.

LOCAL NEWS

Andrea KriemlerRead more +02 October 2021 By Nikos Saltamanikas in Interviews

Interview with Andrea Kriemler

  How many times has it happened to you to leave a place and remember it for a long time?It’s maybe its unique items that decorate it. It may be the air it exudes or the aroma that emerges. It can be the kindness and the way you have been served. Or it might just
Jacob von Sandrart, 1687, pg 65Read more +21 August 2019 By Nikos Saltamanikas in Interviews

Tinos through her eyes

A rare collection- a remarkable writer Human race stands out about its curiosity. It seeks knowledge not only to satisfy practical needs, but also as an end in itself. We could mention more than enough turning points in this quest: language, the invention of writing, engraving and typography, as well as the development of shipbuilding
Read more +08 February 2023 By Nikos Saltamanikas in Accomodation, Architecture, Culture, Gastronomy, General

House in Tinos

This traditional house in Tinos, originally built in 1910, has been lovingly reimagined as a modern home. Set in the mountain village of Falatados, each area of the renovated house plays on the original functions of the building and revives these spaces with a fresh and contemporary purpose. The lower level, the katoi, originally housed
TOP