Surreal Monasteries of Meteora, (Thessaly, Greece)

One of the most visually stunning and spectacular places in Greece is the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora. I recommend a visit to Meteora to experience the surreal marvels of man and nature, if not for, spiritual, religious, historic & academic interests.

In the middle of northern Greece, at the western region of the Thessaly plain, beside the Pindhos Mountains, sandstone rocks formed 60 million years ago rise from the ground, atop which are perched the monasteries of Meteora. The rocks themselves are so overwhelming that it takes a while to notice the monasteries. Gloriously incongruous at noon, silhouetted against the setting sun, eerie and huge in the floodlights at night, they're an awesome sight. Featured in a James Bond movie, the rocks are an adrenaline booster to both, professional and amateur rock-climbers.

Originally the monks, seeking solitude, settled in the caves within the rocks, a thousand years ago. But Turkish rule, forced them to climb higher and higher up the sheer rock face, till they had built the monasteries on virtually inaccessible peaks. The monasteries embody the sheer tenacity of the monks and exemplify their architectural feat in building complex structures at a time, when access was limited to ropes, ladders and nets. During the Turkish occupation Greek culture and traditions were kept alive in these monasteries. It attracted not only the pilgrims, but also the philosophers, poets, painters and the intellectuals of Greece.

Today of the two dozen monasteries, only six are active. They are full with religious treasures, wall paintings, icons and libraries rich in old manuscripts.

Agios Nikolaos (St, Nicholas) Anapafsas: built in the 16th Century by Dionysius; it features splendid frescoes by the 16th-century Cretan painter & monk Theophanes.

Agia Triada (Holy Trinity): founded by the monk Dometius in the 15th century, it is perched atop a slender pinnacle, only accessible by 140 steep steps. Its solitariness is further enhanced by the only two resident monks. The remoteness of its spectacular location was famously used for the James Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only’.

Roussanou Monastery: founded in 1545 by two brothers Joasaph and Maximos, on the ruins of an even older church. It contains outstanding wall paintings, wood & panel icons and icon stands.

Agios Stephanos (St. Stephen): an active nunnery with an important relic: the head of St. Charalambos, whose powers include warding off illness. It has uninterrupted view of the plain towards Kalambaka.

Great Meteoron: built upon the highest rock, it is the best known Meteora Monastery. The Serbian Emperor Symeon Uros became a monk and donated his entire wealth to it, thereby making it the richest and most powerful of all the monasteries. It contains some of the most gruesome frescoes of Early Christian sufferings at the hands of the Romans, as well as, beautiful wall paintings and post Byzantine Mural art.

Varlaam Monastery founded in 1517 by Theophanis and Nektarios Apsaradas it houses an important collection of relics, intricately carved wooden crosses, icons, embroidered epitaphoi and many other ecliastical treasures. It also contains frescos by the well-known post Byzantine iconographer Frangos Katelanos.

More details: Greeklandscapes Meteora; Wikipedia Meteora Monastery; meteora-greece.info; Greek Official Website; greecetaxi.gr/meteora

Monastery Open Timings

Other Practical Info:
There is an entry fee to enter each of the monasteries and as prevalent in most of the Greek monasteries proper attire is required. Women in knee length skirts and arms fully covered, men in full length trousers and shirts.

All the monasteries are connected by a series of path works and if you begin early you can cover all in one day. They are also connected by roads so if you are coming by car and don't have all day to wander around you can also get close enough and then continue on foot. The Lonely Planet Guide to Greece is handy when it comes to instructions on how to get from one monastery to another but don’t panic if you aren’t carrying one, local guidebooks are just as useful.

Other Attractions /Activities:

Kastraki is a popular destination for rock climbers and walkers

Adventure Sports: Meteora is also a great place to go rock climbing and Trekking. Hellas has a rock climbing school for beginners as well as programs in the area for beginners and advanced climbers. They also organize ultralight flights, paragliding and parachuting for all those who like to live on the edge.

In Kalambaka: Two sights of importance: The Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin & The Cave of Theopetra which has revealed signs of being inhabited since the Middle Palaeolithic Period and therefore demonstrates the transition from the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic way of life in Greece.

Many people do Delphi in combination with Meteora.

Accommodation:

Most people stay at the two closest villages to Meteora are Kalambaka and Kastraki each within 15mins walking distance of each other. For more details: kalampaka.com; hotelsintrikala.gr; Matt Barrett's Hotel Guide

How to Reach

By Bus: There are several connections from Athens to Trikala and then further to Kalambaka.

By Tour: Meteora is on the tour circuit. Several tour companies offer a day or more combined with other sites. Do check Dolphin Hellas Travel, Fantasy Travel, Viator for more details

Rent A Car - Swift in Athens is recommended by Matt Barrett for good rates, a Plaka location and the added benefit of them picking you up from the airport or your hotel and driving you to the National Road so that you don't have to negotiate with the crazy Athens traffic. Check www.greektravel.com/swift. Off course there are a host of other options that can be explored online (travelsupermarket.com, europcar.com, etc)

By Train

From Athens take the train to Volos. From there take the connecting to Kalambaka.

From Thessaloniki - There is a connection to and fro from here

By Taxi: You can travel by Taxi at your own comfort or pace, for further details click on http://www.greecetaxi.gr/. Or you can travel with George the Famous Taxi Driver in an air-conditioned Mercedes. He even handles the hotel arrangements and you can combine it with other sites or check