• Meteora Monasteries

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  • A striking and overwhelming 400 meters high rock pillars and monasteries on clifftops near the town of Kalabaka. Located at the Plain of Thessaly near the Pindus Mountains, 240 km from Thessaloniki, and 340 km from Athens, it’s a highly popular Greek tourist attraction.
    The region which was considered by early Christians a perfect place to find peace and harmony through absolute isolation, is home to one of the largest complexes of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries, second in importance only to Mount Athos.

    Most of the monasteries were built in the 14th – 16th centuries period. The existing 6 monasteries out of the 24 that operated in the 16th century, were built on immense natural pillars dominating the landscape and are accessible by staircases and pathways cut into the rocks. In the 16th century the only way to rich a monastery was by climbing a long ladder or by large nets or baskets which were used to pull up both goods and people and were pulled up when the monastery was threatened by Turkish raiders. In the 19th – 20th centuries, steps were cut into the rocks making the complex more accessible.

    Of the six functioning monasteries, the Holy Monastery of St. Stephen and the Holy Monastery of Roussanou are inhabited by nuns while the others are inhabited by monks. The total monastic population of the Meteora monasteries is 60-70 monks and nuns.

    There are many caves in the area that were used by monks for isolated retreats in the 9th -10th centuries period, and ruined monasteries that were built in the 14th -16 th centuries period and were abandoned later. These are also interesting sites to visit but it is recommended to take a local tour to fully explore these special attractions.

    Thetjoy.com recommends that while in the area, explore and enjoy the beautiful Thessaly region, with its mountains, rivers, and the popular Plastira Lake.

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