Tinos Windmills

A drive around Tinos will bring you to many architectural and artistic treasures of folk art. The many windmills scattered in the weathering hills of the island are some of the finest examples of local architecture.
The first windmills were established during the Venetian occupation. The need for their construction was immediate, as the locals extended their cultivated areas quickly. All in all, 120 to 130 windmills are estimated to have been constructed on the island.

The strong northern winds that Tinos is often prone to created the ideal conditions for the mills’ functioning. In many cases, the islanders’ daily needs required the extensive use of windmills. They also contributed significantly to the economy of the island, which would export flour during the years of the Greek Revolution (early 19th century). During the Second World War, the millers would often put their own lives in danger by grinding flour late at night, which was prohibited by the Nazi troops.

The windmills were usually circular and were built near streets and crossroads to make flour transport easier. They typically consisted of three floors; the ground level, the middle level, and the attic, where the actual grinder was. Eight antennas would hold the triangular sails, while the moving apparatus would lie on the dome.

The construction of the wooden mechanism used in the windmills demanded great knowledge and skill. The large wheel had to be pinned on the shaft that was usually made of cypress wood, while its cogs had to fit perfectly into the metal spindles of the spinning wheel. The whole mechanism had to fit properly to point the sails in the direction of the wind.

Most windmills stopped functioning in the 1950s, with only a few remaining active until the 1980s. Today, most of them are deserted or completely ruined, while others have been reconstructed as houses and hotels. They are spread throughout the island, with the areas around Pyrgos, Isternia, Kardiani, and Kambos presenting some of the most remarkable ones. Along with the windmills, some watermills also remain in the regions of Lazarus, Agapi, and Perastra, among others.