Monasteries of Meteora
Description:
The monasteries of Meteora are among the most striking sights of Greece. This place got its name from the Greek. “Meteora,” which literally means “hanging in the air,” perfectly describes these six remarkable Greek Orthodox monasteries.
The sand peak was first mastered by Byzantine hermits in the 11th century, who climbed to the top of the rock to be alone with God. These monasteries were built in the 14th and 15th centuries, during a time of instability and the revival of hermit ideals. The greatness of this place and its natural security from the invasions of robbers and robbers, allowed to create over time a large organized monastic community with many monasteries, which grew and strengthened with the help of numerous gifts and contributions.
The first monasteries of the Great Meteora appeared in 1340 and by 1500 their number grew to 24. They flourished until the 17th century, but only 6 of them survive to the present day.
The nearest large settlement of Kalambaka (from the Turkish "top"), located at the foot of Meteora, has all the necessary conditions to host guests for the night. In addition, a day trip from Thessaloniki-Halkidiki is a popular and easy way to visit these places. To visit all 6 monasteries in one day without much haste, it is recommended to start from the monasteries of St. Nicholas (Ayiou Nikolaou Anapavsa), Varlaam (Varlaam) and Great Meteoron (Great Meteoron), before the lunch break (from 13:00), when the monasteries are closed to visitors. Then, St. Russanou, the monastery of the Holy Trinity (Ayias Triadhos) and St. Stephanie (Ayiou Stefanou) after lunch. All monasteries follow a strict dress code: shoulders should be covered, men should wear long trousers, and women should wear long skirts.