Metéora, Monasteries

I had always thought that I was rather knowledgeable of the more special antiquities and tourist sights in Europe, but what a surprise, I had never heard of Metéoro, one of the most fascinating places to visit on the continent of Europe. We drove among the enormously high rock formations, north of Kalambáka, to visit these cenobitic monasteries. There are about 60 huge columns of rock, up to 984 feet high, many are large enough for monastery buildings to be built on the top. Starting about the year 1000, and extending into the 1500’s, 24 monasteries were built, but now only four are inhabited. I have been unable to discover how large the top of these rock formations are, but I would guess that some must have an acre or so, of buildable space.

The name Metéora comes from the Greek work meteorizome, meaning "to hang in mid-air", and the monasteries seem to do just that, perched on a scattering of strangely shaped pinnacles that rise out of the Peneus valley just to the north of Kalambáka.

These are really beautiful works of architectural delight, built in a most unusual location. Since the monks wanted to be alone, these huge monasteries were built by means of very long ladders or a basket or net suspended on a rope. And until recently, that was the only way to visit. A much quoted story relates that an abbot, when asked how often the ropes were changed, replied "when they break." Now they have added staircases, some with hundreds of steps, but for a tourist, it’s well worth the climb. The Metéoro monasteries contain churches, libraries filled with ancient books, treasuries filled with icons and liturgical ornaments, and art work and frescoes beyond your wildest imagination.

The large monasteries look tiny on the tip of these peaks. We drove up a steep twisty hairpin road stopping to take pictures, and stopping for breakfast in our RV overlooking The Varlaám monastery, a little below the Megálo Metéoro, the largest of the group of monasteries. A nice dining spot. Nice? Try magnificent!