Meteora ("suspended in the air") is a group of huge pinnacles of sandstone and conglomerate rising suddenly from the plain of Thessaly, near the town of Kalambaka. Formed millions of years ago from the deposits of an ancient delta and sculpted by erosion, they reach up to 400 metres above the valley in places. On their summits, between the 14th and 16th centuries, Orthodox monks built monasteries that seem to defy gravity. Since 1988 Meteora has been a UNESCO World Heritage site, for both its natural and cultural value.
History
From the 11th century Christian hermits lived in the caves in the rocks, seeking solitude and prayer. In the 14th century the monk Athanasios founded the Great Meteoron on the highest rock, and over the next two centuries more than twenty monasteries arose, protected from raids and wars by their inaccessible position. To climb up the monks used retractable rope ladders and nets hauled up by windlasses: a journey 19th-century visitors described with terror. Today's rock-cut steps and bridges were built in the 1920s. After a long decline, six monasteries are now inhabited by monks and nuns and open to visitors. See the Orthodox Church.
The six monasteries open to visitors
| Monastery | Why |
|---|---|
| Great Meteoron (Metamorphosis) | The largest and oldest, on the highest rock, with a museum, the old kitchen and a frescoed church |
| Varlaam | 16th-century frescoes, a huge barrel and the tower with the original windlass |
| Roussanou | A convent of nuns on a narrow rock, reached by a bridge |
| Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas | Small, with frescoes by the Cretan painter Theophanis |
| Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) | Perched on an isolated pinnacle, reached by 140 steps; it appeared in a James Bond film in 1981 |
| Agios Stefanos | A convent of nuns with a wide view over the plain, the only one reachable without steps |
Each monastery charges a small entry fee and has its own weekly closing day: on any given day almost all are usually open, but check. Hours are shorter in winter.
Visiting
- Dress: women must wear a skirt below the knee (wraps are lent at the entrance), men long trousers; shoulders covered for all.
- Time: allow at least half a day to see three or four monasteries; a full day for all six.
- Trails: old paths link Kalambaka and Kastraki to the monasteries through woods and rocks; the best choice for walkers.
- Sunset: from the viewpoints along the scenic road, sunset over the rocks is unforgettable.
- Climbing: the Meteora walls are a famous sport-climbing destination, with local guides.
Kalambaka and Kastraki
Kalambaka, at the foot of the rocks, is the base town, with hotels, restaurants, the railway station and a fine Byzantine church of the Dormition. The nearby village of Kastraki, even closer to the pinnacles, has quiet guesthouses with views and tavernas. For a larger town, Trikala is about twenty kilometres away.
Getting there
| Transport | Details |
|---|---|
| Train | From Athens changing at Palaiofarsalos, about 4.5-5 hours; from Thessaloniki with a change |
| Bus | KTEL from Athens and Thessaloniki via Trikala |
| Car | About 4.5 hours from Athens (350 km), 3 hours from Thessaloniki |
| Tours | Organised day trips from Athens, long but convenient |
From Meteora you can easily continue to Ioannina and Epirus over the Metsovo pass, or towards Larissa and Mount Olympus. See Ioannina and day trips from Athens.