The mountain village of Isternia lies in the west of Tinos and offers views of the Aegean. Together with Pyrgos, it was also one of the island’s most important centers of marble sculpture. The village church, museum, and windmills provide specific cultural and walking highlights for your stay; the beach adds time by the water. You can tailor your visit to your own interests, deciding whether to focus mainly on village history, a walk, or the beach.
Marble Art in the Village
There was abundant marble in the Isternia area, which is why quarries were established there. The marble art is evident in the furnishings of Agia Paraskevi Church: the iconostasis, pulpit, bishop’s throne, and two shrines are adorned with rich marble decoration. This connects the material to both the local history of quarrying and the design of a church interior. The quarries explain the area’s connection to the material, while the church makes its artistic use visible.
The Museum of Artists from Ysternia was established in 1987 in a building that had previously housed an arts and crafts school and, before that, an elementary school. At the arts and crafts school, girls learned knitting and weaving. The museum displays works by artists born in Isternia, including the Fytalis and Malakates brothers, Georgios Vitalis, Lazaros Sochos, and Antonis Sochos. Here, the village connection comes from the artists’ origins and the building’s former use.
A marble fountain dating from 1940 stands in Nicholaos Glynis Square. Alongside the church furnishings and the works in the museum, it offers a third highlight: a dated marble work in a village square.
Windmills and Paths
The windmills of Isternia are on the way towards Pyrgos as you leave the village. The E1A hiking trail also passes them and then descends towards Platia and Pyrgos. If you plan to take the E1A, check current trail conditions locally.
Nearby, an old, very smooth, step-free path paved with marble connects Isternia to its port settlement, Ormos Ysternion. It differs from the E1A in where it leads: this connection goes to the port settlement, while the hiking trail continues downhill towards Platia and Pyrgos after the windmills. Check the current condition of the paved path before planning to use it.
Village Center and Beach
Isternia’s beach is considered peaceful and has clear blue water. You can enjoy seafood by the water. In the village center, traditional cafés are located near Agia Paraskevi Church. The dining options therefore differ in their setting: seafood by the water or cafés in the village center.
If you want to organize your stay around your interests, Isternia offers a range of highlights: marble sculpture and local history, paths leading in different directions, and the beach and dining by the water. When choosing between the walking routes, it is especially helpful to consider where each one leads: after the windmills, the E1A descends towards Platia and Pyrgos; the paved path connects the village with Ormos Ysternion.
Discover more destinations: Volakas, Arnados, Agios Sostis, Tinos, Ormos Panormou, Agios Fokas, Tinos, Komi.
For the main travel overview: Tinos.
