In Meteora, Greece, a complex of ancient monasteries stands atop spectacular sandstone towers eroded by time.
In Meteora in tracksuit, in northern Thessaly, looking north of Kalambaka or Kastriki, one is left speechless at the grandeur of the sandstone towers that dominate the city. Even more we were stunned admiring what is at the top.
Here, in the 14th century, a group of Greek Orthodox monks He decided to build his own places of worship. 24 monasteries were built, all atop a pinnacle or leaning against steep walls. Until the last century, accessible by ropes or removable ladders, today access to the remaining 6 meteors is facilitated by challenging masonry or rock-cut ladders.
You get to the meteors from kalambaka, on a tour that allows you to visit them all in one day. If the climbs are not a problem, it is possible to move from one monastery to another on foot, but in this case you will need at least two days to visit them all, given the reduced opening hours to the public.
Like all places of worship, There are precise rules about what clothes to wear.. For women, no pants are allowed, only skirts below the knees, while for men only long pants. Bare shoulders are not allowed and if the clothing worn is not appropriate, towels are available at the entrances to be used as skirts or shoulder covers.
I 6 hanging monasteries are Great Meteora, the largest and highest situated, Agia Triada, the most difficult to reach and the most panoramic, which can also be reached on foot through the ancient path used by the monks. You can also visit Varlaam, the second largest, Agios Nikolaos the first one you find when you arrive from Kastraki and the two monasteries inhabited by communities of nuns, Agios Stefanos e Roussanou. In all the monasteries there are magnificent frescoes that have allowed Meteora to be declared by UNESCO, World Heritage.
If you decide to visit Meteora, you can get there by bus or train from Volos or Thessaloniki. You can stay in a hotel in nearby Kalambaka or in the town of Kastriki, towns that live thanks to the tourism generated by Meteora, but apart from letting you sleep and eat, they don't have much to offer you. Spring and autumn are the ideal time to visit Meteora, but seeing the monasteries covered in snow, in an almost nativity scene, can be a unique experience.
