Meteora

The Holy rocks Of Meteora are situated over the town of Kalampaka, on the north-western edge of the Plain of Thessaly in Central Greece. Sandstone steep rocks, rising over 400 meters above the ground, were formed about 60 million years ago, as a result of erosions, earthquakes and geological changes that followed over the centuries, and created this rare natural phenomenon and landscape.Meteora is from the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos. We can locate the first traces of their history from 11th c. when the first hermits settled there. The rock monasteries have been characterized by UNESCO as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage and they form one of the most important stations of cultural map of Greece.

Nowadays, there are six active monasteries unique, breath-taking, and steeped in religious history to visit on the rocks.

The most important monasteries of Meteora are:

- The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron. It is the biggest of the Meteorite monasteries. The church 'Katholikon',  was erected in the middle of 14th c. and 1387/88 and decorated in 1483 and 1552. The old monastery is used as a museum, nowadays.

- The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second, after the Great Meteoro, big in size monastery. The church, is in the Athonite type, with spacious esonarthex,  surrounted by dome as well. It was built in 1541/42 and decorated in 1548, while the esonarthex was decorated in 1566. The old refectory is used as a museum while North of the Church we can see the parekklesion of the Three (Bishops) built in 1627 and decorated in 1637.

- The Holy Monastery of Rousanou. It is dedicated to 'The Transfiguration' but honoured to Saint Barbara. The 'Katholikon', in the Athonite type, was founded in the middle of 16th c. and decorated in 1560. Both, the Katholikon and the reception halls are in the ground floor while the 'archontariki', cells and subsidiary rooms are scattered in the basement and the first floor.

- The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas. It is the first to meet on our way from Kastraki to Meteora. The 'Katholikon' dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a single - nave church with small dome, built in the beginning of 16th c. It was decorated by the Cretan painter Theophanis Strelitzas or Bathas, in 1527.

- The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen. It is one of the most attainable as we don't have to cope with innumerable stairs to reach it. The small single-nave church of St. Stephen was built in the middle of 16th and decorated in 1545 or a little later. The 'Katholikon', was built in the Athonite type, in 1798. The old refectory of the convent is used as a museum nowadays.

- The Monastery of Holy Trinity is very difficult to reach. The visitor has to cross the valley and continue high up through the rock before we arrive outside the entrance. The church is in the cross-in-square type with the dome based in two columns, built in 1475-76 and decorated in 1741. The spacious barrel - vaulted esonarthex was founded in 1689 and decorated in 1692. A small skeuophylakeion was added next to the church in 1684.

Also, worth to see:

In kalampaka

The Byzantine temple of Dormition of the Mother of God

This temple is the most important monument of Kalabaka. The temple of Dormition of the Mother of God that is located in the old city, was erected between 10th and 11th century on the ruins of an early Christian royal. The unique in Greece, marble Pulpit is situated in the centre of the intermediate declinable. Impressive and appreciable is also the bell tower of the temple that is located in the northern side of the entry of the compound of the temple. Of particular interest is the only kind of marble pulpit with two staircases, lying on the floor in the center of the nave of the church. Reassembled, in part, from a material of early Christian pulpit.

The Digital Projection Centre of Meteora’s History and Culture

It is a center where visitors wearing special glasses can watch in 3D (three dimensions) shows depicting: Mythology concerning the Holy Meteora and a show-tour of the Holy Monasteries of the Holy Meteor.

Natural history museum of kalampaka and Mushroom Museum

The Museum contains a rich collection of birds and mammals as well as a comprehensive mushroom museum, the first of its kind in Greece, an enjoyable and productive experience.

In kastraki village

The Holy Monastery of St. George Mandilas

Driving towards the Monastery of St. Nicholas from Kastraki, you can find the monastery of St. George Mandilas, built inside the rock like a small cave. Each year on its celebration day, 23rd April, men climb up and change the headscarves from the previous year and put new ones. It is believed these scarves make miracles.

The “Museum of Geological Formations of Meteora”

Visitors are taken 30 million years backwards and they are able to see the geological site of the Meteora as sea span, slowly developing into the Holy Meteora of today.

Entering the Museum, the visitor is taken 30 million years backwards. You are able to see the geological site of the Meteora as sea span, slowly developing into the Holy Meteora of today. You can see general icons of the Meteora with video describing the general creation of the Meteora and the surrounding mountain of Koziakas. You can also find a general study on geology and its different uses through out Greece and detailed analysis of the creation of the Holy Meteora.

In Trikala area

Prehistoric Cave of Theopetra a unique archeological monument and one of the most interesting from historical opinion caverns of Greece.

Stone Bridge in Pyli village

It was built in 1514 by Saint Bessarion and referred to as the bridge of Porta and connects the mountains of Itamos and Koziakas. By the end of the 1930s it was the only passage from the lowland tribal villages to the South Pindos.

Porta Panagia Church

At the same area, you can see Porta Panagia, the Byzantine church of 1283.This impressive and elaborate temple, Porta Panagia, is classified as an important ancient preserved and historical monument.

The church of the Holy Cross in Doliana of Krania Aspropotamos  which is an exceptional post-byzantine monument of the 18th century.

Respect

While visiting the monasteries, women are required to wear skirts covering the knees and have their shoulders covered, too. 

Men are required to wear trousers covering the knees. Most of the monasteries do provide wraps at the entrance.