Monastiria on Tinos

I am childishly fond of abandoned villages both at home and in Greece. It is so fascinating to walk around a deserted village and fantasize about times gone by. What was life like in the village before it was abandoned? Why did the residents move from the village? Why hasn't anyone moved back?

My favorite when it comes to deserted villages in Greece is Mikro Chorio on Tilos (in the Dodecanese islands) which was abandoned in the 1950s. Monastiria on Tinos is not as big as Mikro Chorio, but it is just as abandoned. The only building in Monastir that is not in ruins is the Catholic Church of Saint Joseph. This abandoned and captivating village lies between the villages of Krokos and Komi, which in turn is quite close to the love village of Agapi.

The abandoned village of Monastiri and the Catholic Church of Saint Joseph.

Map of Monastiri.

Monastiria's decline and fall began in the 1960s, when the first villagers moved to Athens. They sought better opportunities in the capital and left their village for a better future. In 1970, Monastiria was empty of people and decay began.

One of the bread ovens in Monastiria.

I wonder how long it took to build houses that look like stone walls?

One thing that sets Monastiria apart from other abandoned villages I've visited in Greece is the unique architecture. Or rather the colour of the houses which were (are) pastel coloured. Maybe it was because the villagers were Catholic and not Greek Orthodox? As I said, the church is called the Catholic Church of Saint Joseph, and Greek Orthodox churches do not have such names.

Wonder what kind of building this was? A church?

And what kind of house could this have been? A theater?

It was probably a pretty village once upon a time.

Remains of Monastiria. On the right is the village of Komi.

Unfortunately an artist used the village as an art installation a few years ago. He put up mirrors in the houses, which I understand would strengthen the feeling of abandonment. The mirrors remain, many of them are cracked and there is mirror glass here and there. It's been a few years since we visited Monastiria, so hopefully the mirrors have been removed. Mirrors or not, it is incredibly fascinating to wander around the deserted village and fantasize about how life once took shape here.

Catholic Church of Saint Joseph in Monastiria.

The church looks like a cream cake.

This is what it looks like in the Catholic Church of Saint Joseph when a new pope has been elected. :-)

READ MORE ABOUT TINOS