Meteora

“In the 11th century orthodox hermits started living in caves in these high cliffs, far, far away from the rest of the world”

Meteora
Driving form Kalambaka Village up to the monasteries of Meteora, it is almost like being on a different planet. These high pillars of rock that seem to reach for the sky in the otherwise flat landscape look like something out of science fiction and on top of them – the monasteries – old, magnificent and very impressive.

Meteora

The area of Meteora is said to have been sea once upon a time. Sometime in the 11th century orthodox hermits started living in caves in these high cliffs, far, far away from the rest of the world. They slowly became organised since they met for mass once a week, and in the 14th century the first constructions started and it is believed that one of the reasons was that the monks and the people needed shelter from the Turkish attacks that went on.

The Great Meteoron was built 1356-1372 and the man behind this project was the monk Athanasios, who also set the rules for the monastic life. When riches were added to it after a member of the Serbian royal family became a monk here, the monastery got a leading role in Meteora. Other active Monasteries of Meteora are the Monastry of Varlaam, the Monastery of Rousanou, the Monastery of Agia Trias (Holly Trinity), the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos and the the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos.

There is a 2 euro fee to enter each of the monasteries and proper attire is required. Women must wear skirts below the knees though in some monasteries these are provided for women in shorts or slacks. Men’s arms must be covered and they must wear long pants. Monasteries are closed between one and three every day. The monasteries themselves, besides prividing an incredible view are full of religious treasures, wall paintings, icons and libraries rich in old manuscripts. Most of them were built in the 1500′s and then added to over the centuries. Meteora had its peak period in the 16th century, but then the monasteries were slowly abandoned.

The fascinating landscape was used when filming the Bond film “For Your Eyes Only”. The hero and the bad guys climb the high “stalagmites” and as a matter of fact, there are many people who still do this through the mountaineering organisations of the area.

Additional Information
Location: 348,00 km from Athens

It is famous about
Monasteries
Orthodox hermits
Theopetra cave