Six monasteries survive today, among them the Great Meteoron, the oldest and largest, founded by Saint Athanasios in the mid-14th century, along with Varlaam, Rousanou, St Nicholas Anapausas, Holy Trinity and St Stephen. For centuries monks and supplies were hauled up in nets or climbed long ladders; since the 1920s, steps cut into the rock have made the climb far easier. Visitors explore frescoed chapels and small museums and enjoy sweeping views over the Thessalian plain.
Meteora, Greece
Meteora Monasteries
Rising above the town of Kalambaka in Thessaly, the Meteora Monasteries crown a forest of giant sandstone and conglomerate pillars shaped by millions of years of water, wind and frost. Hermits first sought refuge here, and in the 14th century monks began building monasteries on the summits, eventually around two dozen. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 for both its cultural and natural value.
- Great Meteoron
- Varlaam
About Meteora Monasteries
More to see in Meteora
