About Tutti Blu Living Space

Guesthouse

The position of the house, as well as the philosophy of the island itself, encourages the travellers – visitors to engage with a series of activities that can compose an integrated experience for them. Apart from swimming in the crystal clear and fresh waters of the Aegean in nearby virgin beaches such as Santa Margarita, Lychnaftia, Livada, Pachia Ammos (15’-30’ drive) such activities may include hiking in the many preserved traditional footpaths, mountaineering, visiting the numerous picturesque small churches, the traditional vineyards and wineries, as well as participation in agricultural activities such as grape harvesting, spirit distilling and others. Finally, the excellent and pure local products and ingredients, in combination with the artistry of the Tinian cooks, have established the island as a proud gastronomic destination.

The position of the house, as well as the philosophy of the island itself, encourages the travellers – visitors to engage with a series of activities that can compose an integrated experience for them. Apart from swimming in the crystal clear and fresh waters of the Aegean in nearby virgin beaches such as Santa Margarita, Lychnaftia, Livada, Pachia Ammos (15’-30’ drive) such activities may include hiking in the many preserved traditional footpaths, mountaineering, visiting the numerous picturesque small churches, the traditional vineyards and wineries, as well as participation in agricultural activities such as grape harvesting, spirit distilling and others. Finally, the excellent and pure local products and ingredients, in combination with the artistry of the Tinian cooks, have established the island as a proud gastronomic destination.

History and Architecture

Tutti Blu Living Space is situated in the small, traditional village of Mesi, in up-country Tinos Island, within the Cyclades, Greece. Mesi (the meaning of which in Greek is “in the middle”) sits literally in the middle between two of the bigger villages of the area, namely Falatados and Steni, in the plateau under the magnificent rocky hill of Xombourgo, where the ruins of a Venetian Castle, seat of the Venetian administration on the island during the Venetian Era lie.

Architecturally, the way this house was constructed represents a typical example of Cycladic, vernacular architecture, where the building materials, house orientation and microclimate conditions of the area were used in order to provide comfortable living conditions through natural means throughout the year – fresh in the summer, yet warm in the winter.

The hostel is a characteristic typical
traditional folk Cycladic architecture.

Tutti Blu Living Space is an old stone house, founded in 1796, located on the central square of the small village. It was the first house of the settlement to be built, around which the few other houses have followed.

Cultural Heritage and Traditional knowledge

The integration of the architectural features of the cottage industry user needs flourished for a long period on the island, namely silk production and silkworm cultivation. In particular the (relatively) large amount of the lobby is attributed to the need for mounting reed series with mulberry leaves, essential for in-house cultivation of silkworms from which was produced the (excellent quality) Tinian silk. (This was used for household, industrial production of gloves and socks.)

The absence of substantive discrimination between architect / journeyman construction and owner / user of the house, which was the same (as opposed to what happens to modern times, where the architect and the user are roles distinct and often conflicting).

Another kind of cottage industry developed in this house and was maintained until the 1980s was the creation of rag, quilts, covers, small carpets etc. The patchwork of smaller older pieces or scrap fabric, this internationally known today as a patchwork. In old chests of the house they have been excellent examples of this technique.

The house is formed over the centuries a focal point of social life of the village and its people – members of the wider same family.
In the hall of the receiving country all kinds of social gatherings and events: weddings, christenings, funerals, memorial services, school etc.
They came to the current owners inherited directly from grandfather to grandfather.