Ancient monuments and sites of archeological interest:
The ancient walls, parts of which are preserved in Megalo Chorio.
In the position Kena near Megalo Chorio a carved tomb was discovered full of golden objects, now transferred in the museum of Rhodes.
The 20 little churches painted with frescoes are built with local stone. Their characteristic features are a horseshoe-shaped arch and a barrel-shaped roof. They were built from the 13th to the 16th century.
Fortresses
In Megalo Chorio you can see the Fortress of Misaria, a medieval building of 1366 founded by the Knights of Saint John above the Charkadio cave. The ruins of several dwellings and of a little church are preserved. At the foot of the fortress you can see the preserved vestiges of a Byzantine settlement and of several little churches of the 13th and the 15th century covered with hagiographies. In the gully there is a spring, irrigating the cultivations of citrus trees.
The Fortress is at the same place where the acropolis of the ancient city was, whose shrine was dedicated to Pythios Apollo and Poliada Athina. The Fortress and the settlement built in the slope of the hill formed the inhabited part of Tilos until the Protochristian era. On the remains of the ancient temple, you see today the half-ruined church of Archangel Mihail with its 16th century worn-out frescoes. The view from the Fortress is striking. The best time to visit it is in late-afternoon, as you can also admire the sunset over the bay of Aghios Andonios. Outside the fortress there are water reservoirs and the ruins of the old village whose churches were also covered with hagiographies. The Fortress was restored by the Knights.
Monasteries and Churches
The Monastrery of Agios Pandeleimon (picture on the right), 9 km to the west, on a slope of a steep hill, is an oasis with the ever-green garden around it. Since 1800 a huge cypress stands as its guard and custodian. The katholikon of the monastery is adorned by a hagiography revealed in August 1986, picturing the founder Jonas with the monastery in his hand. It is a building of 1470-80, and includes a tower, the cells, warehouses and other rooms around the katholikon. It was restored in 1703 and 1824 respectively.
The wooden-carved iconostasis is of the 18th century. The pebbled yard was constructed in 1843. Professor Charis Koutelakis who has carried out extensive research in the island does not exclude the hypothesis that maybe the monastery was built with material coming from an ancient temple. And as the existence of a temple of Poseidon in the island is being discussed - documented by an inscription and a reference by Strabo - this could be the ideal place for the temple. Aghios Pandeleimon is the protector of the island.
The church of Archangel Mihail (Taxiarchis) is in Megalo Chorio. The big silver icons from the homonymous church of the fortress have been transferred here. The wooden-carved iconostasis, the pulpit and the throne, are works of the 19th century.
The church of Panaghia Theotokissa is situated at the higher quarter of the settlement.
The little post-Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis Theologos, is also in Megalo Chorio and has remarkable frescoes.
The church of Panagiia Kamariani, is near the area of Plaka where you can find a water spring (the Tilians were very proud of this spring).
The church of Panagia Politissa is in Misoskali near Livadia, and its important cemetery dating from the 3rd century AD.
The little church of Agios Ioannis is near Livadia.
The church of Agios Stefanos is in a little harbour near Livadia.
Tilos is a small, blissfully quiet and unspoiled Greek Island with friendly people and wonderful walking country.
Although Tilos looks rugged, inland it shelters groves of fig trees, walnuts and olives.
Getting There
