A stunning rock formation was chosen over the centuries as the perfect home for a cluster of monasteries, many of which are still standing.
These precipitously built complexes now dominate the Trikala regional unit from atop the stunningly massive natural pillars and rounded boulders creating the Meteora rock formation.
Located in the homonym municipality of Meteora, the rock formation is just a short drive away from the town of Kalabaka and is part of the Greek region of Thessaly.
Meteora still counts six functioning monasteries out of the total of 24 that were built there between the 13th and 14th centuries.
These monasteries, all part of the Eastern Orthodox church, were built to serve monks and nuns retiring on Meteora to follow the teachings of their religion.ย
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But Meteora isn’t extraordinary just because of its monasteries and the unique landscape it creates.
The rock formation is also very close to one of the world’s oldest man-made structures – the stone wall blocking the entrance to Theopetra Cave, which experts believe may be some 23,000 years old.
This cave itself is also of massive importance as it shows evidence of human presence dating back at least 50,000 years ago.ย
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Meteora and the monasteries that are still standing on the rock formation can be visited by all those tourists willing to tackle paths and staircases carved in the rock.
Among those who took to the internet to share memories of their visit is Australian Jason S, who described Meteora as a “real highlight of my trip to Greece”.
He wrote on Tripadvisor: “Nothing short of amazing the scenery in Meteora, multiple lookouts to see along the road that loops around the valley.
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“In the mountains the higher the better for scenery and you get great views of multiple monasteries, as well as views overlooking the valley and city.”
Another internet user, Dean C, wrote: “This was a highlight of our trip. The views were incredible. We hiked to four of the monastics in two days.
“We loved learning about the history, art and architecture. Go first thing in the morning. By afternoon it gets crowded and parking is difficult.”ย
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