Meteora

The monks chose these rocks for their isolation, and for centuries the monasteries could only be reached by ladders or by nets hauled up with ropes. Today steps cut into the rock and a scenic road make them accessible, but the sense of height and solitude remains, especially when mist fills the valleys below the pillars.

Six monasteries are still active and open to visitors, including the Great Meteoron, the largest, and the much-photographed Roussanou and Varlaam. The nunnery of St Stephen looks straight down over Kalambaka. Their frescoes, libraries and terraces offer views over the plain and the rock forests below, and the road between them is lined with viewpoints.

Meteora is one of the highlights of our Visit The Balkans In 6 Days, which crosses from Albania into northern Greece. Kalambaka and the neighbouring village of Kastraki, set right at the foot of the rocks, are the natural bases for an overnight stay.

Visit at sunrise or sunset for the best light, and remember modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) inside the monasteries. Each monastery has its own closing day, so it is worth planning which ones to see. Spring and autumn bring mild weather for walking the old footpaths between the rocks.

Gallery photos: Holger Uwe Schmitt (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ioannis Ioannidis (CC BY-SA 4.0), DimitrisP67 (CC BY-SA 4.0), LucT (CC BY-SA 3.0), Stathis floros (CC BY-SA 4.0), Dimitris9444 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons