Meteora
Meteora literally "in the middle of the sky" or " in the heavens above ", is one of the gems of Greece and second only to Mount Athos as being the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries .
Located : Located near the towns of Kalampaka and Kastraki in northwestern Thessaly it consists of a number of rock pinnacles topped with a total of 24 monasteries. These immense, solid rocks, split by earthquakes, weathered by water and wind over millions of years, are nature’s authentic masterpieces.
Monasteries to See:
1)Great Meteoron Monastery:The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoro is the biggest and oldest one of all, dating back to the 14th century. It was called the monastery that was "suspended in the air" (meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built.
2)Holy Trinity Monastery:The Monastery of Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) is the most difficult to reach, but once you get to the very top the panoramic view of the surroundings is simply captivating .
3)Roussanou Monastery: The Holy Monastery of Roussanou has received the name of the first probable hermit who settled on the rock. The main cathedral, celebrating the memory of Santa Barbara, was founded at the end of the 16th century and was decorated thirty years later .
4)St.Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery :The Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas is the first Monastery that we encounter on our way to the Holy Meteora and was founded at the end of the 14th century. The monastery is only a short walk from Kastraki village just 1km away
5)Varlaam Monastery: The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second biggest monastery. It is located opposite of the Great Meteoro Monastery and it was founded in the mid 14th century by the exercitant Hosios Varlaam.
6)St.Stephen's Monastery:This is the most accessible monastery, where instead of steps you simply cross a small bridge to reach the entrance. It is ideal for visitors who cannot use the steps and yet they wish to have a real experience of a Meteora monastery.
