A Cycladic Reverie: Our Stay at Xinara House on the Island of Tinos

There are places that whisper to you. And then there are places like Xinara House, which sing—boldly, beautifully, and with unapologetic soul. Nestled in the heart of the Greek island of Tinos, this restored 17th-century bishop’s residence is more than a villa. It’s a living canvas of creativity, heritage, and quiet luxury.

Xinara House: A Masterpiece in the Mountains

Perched on the slopes of Mount Exombourgo, Xinara House is a poetic collision of art, architecture, and authenticity. British owners Susan and Peter Marston—designers with pedigrees in fashion, furniture, and horticulture—have transformed this once-crumbling mansion into a sanctuary of style. Think Rachel Whiteread sofas, Gilbert & George prints, and antique finds from Lisbon auctions, all layered with Cycladic textures and hand-carved marble details.

The interiors are a study in curated maximalism: Delftware plates, vintage trinkets, and bold textiles dance across whitewashed walls. Outside, terraced gardens bloom with figs, lemons, and wild herbs. Breakfasts are served under pergolas, with eggs from the coop and fruit plucked fresh from the trees. It’s not just a house—it’s a philosophy of living.

Xinara House unfolds across multiple serene bedroom suites, each conceived as a retreat within a retreat. The primary suites are generous in scale, with beds dressed in crisp linens, built-in stone or plaster details, and windows that frame the undulating hills of Tinos like living canvases. En-suite bathrooms—cool, sculptural, and tactile—feature walk-in showers, refined fittings, and a palette of limestone, polished cement, and sun-washed whites.

 Additional guest bedrooms echo the same restrained elegance, offering privacy without sacrificing cohesion. Whether hosting extended family or a circle of close friends, the layout allows each guest their own sense of seclusion—an essential luxury in a shared summer house. The overall capacity makes it ideal for larger gatherings, yet the atmosphere remains intimate, never cavernous.

Facilities: Effortless Indoor–Outdoor Living

Life at Xinara House unfolds in a kind of gentle choreography — a rhythm shaped by sunlight, stone, and the irresistible pull between indoors and out. The house itself seems to breathe with the landscape, every doorway and terrace inviting you to drift effortlessly between cool interior calm and the warm embrace of the Cycladic air.

Mornings begin on the front terrace, a sun‑washed perch overlooking the village and the valley beyond. It’s the kind of place where breakfast naturally lingers — where you find yourself reading just one more chapter, sipping coffee a little slower, letting the quiet settle around you. The light here is soft and generous, catching on the marble table and the linen folds of the cushions, making even the simplest moment feel cinematic.

Behind the house, the world opens up again — this time into a series of terraced gardens that feel both wild and meticulously considered. Stone paths wind through beds of herbs, fruit trees, and flowering plants, each level revealing another pocket of beauty. There’s a vegetable garden spread across one terrace overflowing with whatever is in season; guests are encouraged to help themselves, and there’s something deeply grounding about gathering tomatoes or herbs for lunch, still warm from the sun.

Local cats wander in and out of the scene like familiar characters — appearing silently, offering a greeting, then disappearing into the shade as if they have their own appointments to keep.

Scattered across the terraces are different places to be: a long table for shared meals and late‑night conversations; a shaded nook perfect for an afternoon rest; a quiet bench positioned just so for contemplation, where the only sound is the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of village life. Each space feels intentional, yet wonderfully unforced — as though the house simply grew around the way people naturally want to live.

At Xinara House, the indoors and outdoors aren’t separate realms — they’re partners in the same slow, generous way of living. It’s a place that invites you to move gently, to savour, to notice. A home that holds you, yet always nudges you back into the sunlight.

Modern conveniences—air conditioning throughout, high-speed Wi-Fi, thoughtfully integrated lighting, and discreet service areas—sit quietly behind the aesthetic purity. This is a house that performs beautifully without ever appearing to try.

The Pool: A Horizon of Blue

 The pool area is the emotional centerpiece. A sculptural stretch of water mirrors the Cycladic sky, edged with stone terraces and sun loungers positioned for both conversation and contemplation. It is here that days dissolve into golden hour—barefoot, salt-kissed, and unhurried.

A Shaded pergola wrapped in vines provides reprieve from the midday sun, while the surrounding landscape, left intentionally wild, reinforces the sense of privacy. Evening swims feel cinematic; morning laps, meditative. The pool is not merely an amenity—it is an experience.

Xinara — A Cycladic Hamlet Suspended in Time

Tucked into the terraced folds of Tinos, Xinara is the kind of village that feels whispered rather than found. A scattering of whitewashed homes, carved marble lintels, and sun‑softened alleyways, it sits beneath the dramatic sweep of Mount Exomvourgo like a secret kept by the island itself. Life here moves with a gentle, unhurried rhythm — the clink of a coffee cup on a stone table, the rustle of a fig tree in the afternoon breeze, the distant toll of a church bell drifting across the valley.

There’s a quiet grandeur to Xinara, a sense of old-world Cycladic nobility woven through its architecture and its pace. Venetian influences linger in the details: elegant arches, unexpected pops of colour on shutters, and the stately presence of the Catholic church anchoring the village square. Yet the spirit of the place remains deeply local — neighbours chatting across balconies, baskets of herbs drying in the sun, cats stretched luxuriously in patches of warm marble.

From Xinara, the island unfurls in every direction. The light feels different here — softer, more deliberate — catching on stone walls and illuminating the landscape in a way that makes even the simplest moment feel cinematic. It’s a village that invites you to slow down, to look closer, to breathe a little deeper.

Tiny, timeless, and impossibly atmospheric, Xinara is not a destination you simply visit. It’s a place you inhabit, even briefly — a quiet Cycladic world that lingers long after you’ve left.

Tinos: The Cycladic Island That Keeps Its Secrets

Tinos is the Cyclades’ best-kept secret. Just 30 minutes by ferry from Mykonos, it feels worlds away from its glitzy sister. Here, tradition reigns. Pilgrims come for the Panagia Evangelistria church, but the island’s true treasures lie beyond the religious epicenter.

With over 60 villages and a thousand dovecotes, Tinos is a tapestry of marble craftsmanship, slow food, and windswept beauty. Pyrgos, the marble village, is a must—home to the Museum of Marble Crafts and charming cafés serving galaktoboureko in sun-dappled squares. Kardiani, with its spring-fed fountains and marble frogs, is impossibly picturesque. And Ysternia offers both mountain and coastal charm, with views that stretch across the Aegean.

Katsika Street

Katsika Street is one of those places that instantly pulls you in — lively, local, and full of small discoveries. At Sol, you’ll find buttery pastries, wholesome jars, fresh juices, and later, cocktails with a bit of flair. At Maria’s taverna we became lovers of her Meze plates and drooled over the handmade Greek sandals at Esiot. My favourite and the one I returned to numerous times during our stay was Katsika Tinos. Katsika is one of those quietly beautiful boutiques that stops you in your tracks. The space itself is gorgeous — sunlit, minimal, and styled with that effortless Cycladic elegance that makes everything feel elevated. Inside, you’ll find a thoughtful mix of handcrafted Greek and International pieces, island-inspired accessories, and beautiful home objects, each chosen by fashion editor and stylist Anna Zinchenko. It’s the kind of shop where every shelf holds something special, and you leave feeling like you’ve discovered a little piece of Tinos to take home.

Katsika isn’t just a street — it’s a little ecosystem of flavours, characters, and everyday beauty

Beaches to Dream About

Tinos’ beaches are as varied as its villages but a few quickly became our favourites. Kolympithra won us over with its easy, sun‑kissed charm — one side relaxed and breezy, the other a little more organised, both with that golden sand and clear water that make mornings stretch into afternoons. Up in Panormos Bay, the coastline turns dramatic: Agia Thalassa and Kavalourko feel almost sculptural, all wild rock formations and views across to tiny Planitis, the kind of places where you lose track of time. And then there’s Rochari, the boho heart of the north — sandy, social, shaded by tamarisk trees, with just enough buzz to keep you lingering after your swim. A handful of beaches, each with its own mood, offering a glimpse into just how varied and beautiful Tinos’ coastline really is.

Why Tinos Captivates

Tinos is not for the hurried traveler. It’s for the curious, the creative, the ones who seek meaning in marble, meals, and morning light. It’s a place where art and agriculture coexist, where villages hum with history, and where homes like Xinara House elevate the very idea of escape.