The village of Karya, built on a leeward and verdant slope, is located next to the Venetian citadel of Xomvourgo. It overlooks the capital of Tinos, but also the slope of Kechrovouni with its chapels and dovecotes, its peak capped by a monastery.
Some old mansions and three old parish churches – Agios Eleftherios, Agios Dimitrios and the Kimiseos Theotokou (or Assumption of the Virgin) – tell the story of this village. Its newly-constructed houses, built in strict accordance with architectural tradition, the beautiful courtyards, the cobbled streets, the fountains and the attarctive central square are enchanting. Its protected municipal grove is unique on the island.
A festival takes place on October the 26th following a holy liturgy to celebrate the name day of Aghios (Saint) Dimitrios,
On the island of Tinos it is a tradition to whitewash inside and out every church whenever it celebrates the memory of the saint to whom it is dedicated, while women of the village clean up the area around the church, polish the candle-stands, and decorate the sanctuary with flowers. After Mass, treats are served in the courtyard. The festival sometimes culminates in the main square with balo and syrto dances to the sounds of musicians playing instruments based on the violin.
People celebrating their name-day open their homes to the public, having decorated their tables with beautiful dinner sets and white tablecloths. A bounty of local dishes is served with abundant quantities of wine until late in the evening with offerings of psarakia, meringues, pasteli, and xerotigana along with homemade raki.
Tinos traditional dishes are artichokes cooked in a variety of ways, sun-dried tomatoes with batter, froutalia, savore with molasses, fried fish with petimezi sauce, pork sausages, the saltsisi, and the louza of Tinos. Cheeses include the famed graviera and the kopanisti. As for sweets, famous are the amygdalota, xerotigana, karidota, pasteli, loukoumi, and various kinds of halva as well as the renowned thyme honey of Tinos.
