If you’re planning a vacation to Athens, we highly recommend you add a day trip to Meteora to your itinerary to experience the divine view. Meteora, a complex of huge dark-colored rocks, is located near Kalampaka in the foothills of Pindos Mountain.

Except for the breathtaking view are well known for the Monasteries that are situated literally on the rocks of the area and are the second biggest monastery area after Aghion Oros.

Meteora is a mystical place in which are located 30 monasteries form the 11th century. Unfortunately up today only 6 are remaining. Transportation between the Monasteries is still difficult and the only way to visit though is ropes and blocks. This is the reason that during difficult times, Meteora were used as a hiding spot for valuables like art.

GREAT METEORON
During Turkish occupation, at 1340, Saint Athanassios Meteoritis colonized among with other 14 monks to the first rock – Platus Lithos – in an altitude of 420 meters. There they founded the first monastery of Meteora, Monastery of Metaforfosis which is known as the Central Meteora Monastery.

VARLAAM MONASTERY
Valraal Monastery which is named after the first monk who founded the Monastery at the 14th century. The Monastery was renovated at the 16th Century by monks Nektarios and Theofanis with great artists to paint the walls of the Monastery with Christian Art.

ROUSANOS MONASTERY
The Monastery was founded in the 14th century and was renovated in the 16th like Valraam Monastery. Till today is not known how it was named after. The Monastery’s walls are painted with Christian Art of Cretan Conservatory. Access was very difficult and as so the Monastery was abandoned. Till today the only way to visit the Monastery is through bridges.

SAINT NICKOLAS ANAPAUSAS
Saint Nikolas Anapausas Monastery was founded in the 14th 4Century as weel and it is located near Kastraki Village. Due to the fact that the rock that is built on is very tight, the Monastery has no yard and access to it was very difficult only with wind steps.

SAINT STEPHANOS MONASTERY
Saint Stefanos Monastery was founded in the 12th century in a large rock of 7500 sq.m. Access is quite easy since is one of the few Monasteries of the area that you can visit almost by car. This is a women’s monastery with great contribution to the area of Meteora which during Turkish Occupation operated as a school. Nowadays the Monastery keeps great piece of art like the first typing of Aristoteles’ letters in 1498.

HOLY TRINITY MONASTERY
Trinity Monastery was founded in the 14th Century and is located in a high isolated rock. The rock is quite impressive and was filmed in a James Bond movie. Access to the monastery is difficult through 145 steps.