It takes its name from Varlaam, a hermit who lived on the rock in the 14th century. The monastery itself was founded in the 16th century by two brothers from Ioannina, the monks Theophanes and Nektarios Apsaras, who built the main church.
The church of All Saints is covered with fine 16th-century frescoes. Visitors can also see the old tower with its winch and net, once used to haul up supplies and people, as well as a huge wooden barrel used for storing water. As at all the Meteora monasteries, shoulders must be covered and women are expected to wear skirts, which are usually lent at the entrance.
Varlaam is reached by a stairway and bridge from the road. It is usually visited together with the Great Meteoron, which stands a short distance away on the neighbouring rock.
