The unique phenomenon of cultural heritage in Greece travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Meteora is an area in Central Greece. The city Klampak is under the rock towers of Meteora. The thing that makes Meteora so special is the monasteries on the top of the rock towers. The monasteries, the amount of peaks to climb and the paths for hiking brings in Meteora the whole year many tourists. Meteora is from the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece. Steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau.

We can locate the their history from 11th century. But as the times became more unsure during an age of Turkish occupation, brigand and lawlessness, they climbed higher and higher up the rock face until they were living on the inaccessible peaks where they were able to build by bringing material and people up with ladders and baskets and build the first monasteries.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. The Meteora is complex at many monasteries, some most important are – The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron. It is the biggest of the Meteorite monasteries. The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second by size. The monastery houses an important collection of relics, intricately carved wooden crosses, icons and many other ecclesiastical treasures.
Other monastery are the Holy Monastery of St. Stephen - is the only convent in Meteora and has an unimpeded view of the plain towards Kalambaka, the Monastery of Holy Trinity, the Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas – was built in the 16th century, Roussanou Monastery – to get to this monastery you cross a small bridge from another peak, Megalo Meteoro or Metamorphisis – the first church of the Transfiguration is the best known of the Monasteries and is built upon the highest rock. Triada or Holy Trinity was founded in the 15th century. To get to the monastery you walk up 140 steps cut into the rock, past the church of Saint John the Baptise with its wall paintings from 1682. The monastery is open from 9am to 1pm every day. On sunny mornings, the red roof tiles of the monasteries glisten in sharp contrast to the weather-stained grayness of the rocks while the late afternoon sun bathes the landscape with a golden glow.

The cool thing about Meteora is that it does not look any different now than it did when the pictures were taken except for about a million tourists passing through each year. The closestest villages to Meteora are Kalambaka and Kastraki. These are where most people stay. The village of Kastraki in the shade of the rocks of Meteora is a popular destination for the rock climbers who can walk out the door of their hotel and be climbing in a few minutes. It’s a great place to take walks to and from. Because of the popularity of Meteora this little town can get pretty busy in the summer.

If you do not plan to travel to other areas in northern Greece or if your time is limited, the most efficient way to visit Meteora is to take a bus tour from Athens.