A lunar landscape on Tinos? And yet it exists! In the village of Volakas (or Volax) you will encounter a striking scene with scattered rounded granite boulders of impressive size that captivate and fire the imagination.
The Greek islands stand out for their gorgeous beaches, distinctive architecture andtheir picturesque villages. Amid all their many beauties, there are some places that evoke... otherworldly landscapes. Places of unearthly beauty and curious formations that spark the imagination.
In the village of Volakas (or Volax) on Tinos you will encounter such a landscape. Scattered round granite boulders of large size (probably remnants of a volcanic eruption) impress and spark visitors imaginations. A lunar setting unlike anywhere else in Greece.
Volakas: The Tinos village with the strange round rocks
Volakas is built at an elevation of 284 m., on a small plateau in the middle of Tinos, 11 km from Chora. It is a very special village, one of the islands oldest and best-known. The settlement is small, with beautiful houses, well-tended courtyards with bougainvillea and flowers, cobbled lanes and traditional basket-weaving workshops. It owes its name to the large granite rocks (volakoi) that surround it, creating a unique backdrop - a lunar landscape in the middle of the Aegean.
Arriving here youcant help but wonder how theselarge perfectly round rocks ended up on Tinos. Its as if they fell from the sky. These gigantic graniterocks fueled peoples imagination, even inspiring a myth that they are the remnants of the battle between the Giants and the Titans. Today, some argue that a fragment of a meteorite once struck the area, while other researchers believe the rocks originated from a volcanic eruption, 20 million years ago. Regardless of how the rocks were formed, one thing is certain: they offer a striking spectacle you havent seen before. Thanks to this distinctive landscape, in fact, Volakas is a meeting point for climbers from all over the world for bouldering (climbing without a rope).
What else to see in Volakas
Volakas is famed for the art of basket weaving. In the villages basket-weaving workshops you can watch the artisans at work up close and buy their products. Also, in Volakas you will find two little tavernas serving local recipes, a small folklore museum and an open-air stone theater with 300 seats, where various cultural events take place in summer. If you love hiking, from here you can walk along wonderful trails to Agapi, Falatados and the surrounding villages.
