For many, visiting Greece is all about seeing the gorgeous islands within the Aegean Sea and the historic metropolis of Athens. But in the event you flip your consideration to the middle of Greece, Meteora, one of many nation’s most mesmerizing sights, comes into view.
Meteora’s distinctive rock formations and monasteries make it a traditionally fascinating a part of the Thessalia Highlands.
The six monasteries of Meteora are ceaselessly referred to as “beautiful pieces of architecture placed in an environment that is as unique as it is breathtaking.” They get quite a few guests yearly but keep an air of openness and accessibility.
You’re in for a beautiful deal with whenever you go to Meteora mountain in Greece. You’ll see the unbelievable sight of previous monasteries perched precariously on slender rock pillars. Using our Meteora information, you will not miss a factor on this a part of your Greece journey.
Is Meteora Worth Visiting?
This genuinely outstanding a part of the planet is among the most lovely locations now we have ever visited. The Monasteries’ vital scale, magnificent structure, engineering, and geology, make them an absolute standout amongst others.
When you go to the Meteora mountains, you would possibly expertise an unsettling feeling of deja vu as a result of it has appeared in a number of media, together with James Bond and Game of Thrones. Linkin Park additionally acquired the title for his or her Meteora album from Meteora.
We stand by the truth that Meteora is nicely price a go to. Ideally, you’ll be able to go for an evening or two, however it’s additionally a unbelievable day journey for these brief on time. However, in the event you take your time, it’s a place that can proceed to astonish you.
Where Is Meteora?
In the guts of mainland Greece, near the city of Kalabaka, you’ll discover Meteora. It is not essentially the most accessible vacation spot to get to as a result of it is situated smack dab in the course of Greece.
Most individuals arrive at Meteora by way of large cities like Thessaloniki or Athens. Thessaloniki is about 142 miles from Meteora, and Athens is about 217 miles from Meteora. Your solely decisions for transportation to Meteora are by bus, automotive, or practice since there are not any close by airports.
How Many Days Do I Need In Meteora?
You can positively go to the monasteries in Meteora in sooner or later. However, to get the entire expertise, we advise staying for three to 4 days in Meteora. We stayed in Meteora for 3 nights and two full days. We completely beloved that we might discover every thing at a slower tempo.
If you might be strapped for time, you’ll be able to be a part of a day journey from Athens. It appears a bit exhausting, although, as a result of touring.
So we solely advocate it for vacationers who need to pack every thing into their journey rapidly. Also, the monasteries are closed on completely different days of the week, so you will not be capable of go to all of them in sooner or later.
Can You Visit Meteora Monasteries On Your Own?
Yes, you’ll be able to. Of the unique 24 monasteries, solely six are nonetheless in operation, however they settle for guests.
Cost To See Monasteries
Each monastery has a €3 ($2.95) entry payment. To go to all six monasteries, you’ll pay €18 ($17.73) per particular person. You can even want money to pay the entry payment, as the realm’s card services are fairly scarce.
Meteora Monasteries Dress Code
Women should put on lengthy skirts, attire, or sarongs as a result of the Meteora monasteries have strict gown necessities.
Shorts or pants are inappropriate as it is not sufficient to cowl your knees. However, you’ll be able to borrow wrap skirts and shawls from the monasteries’ entrances.
We seen that they’re stricter concerning the lengthy skirt and that shoulders also needs to be lined.
Men ought to put on a t-shirt or long-sleeved shirt (no sleeveless shirts), denims, and footwear. However, we did see a couple of males who acquired away with carrying lengthy shorts that ended just under the knee.
Keep in thoughts that monasteries are locations of faith, so you must act appropriately and with respect.
How Do You Get Up To The Meteora Monasteries?
You can get to and from Meteora in Greece by automotive. Some roads wind their approach across the breathtaking atmosphere throughout Meteora. However, throughout the summer time’s peak journey season, there may be usually a scarcity of parking areas exterior monasteries.
Getting as much as the monasteries is a unique story. You will climb a number of stairs to rise up to most of them. Visiting the monasteries in Meteora will make sure you atone for all of the leg days you’ve gotten skipped since you wished to sleep in.
How Hard Is It To Climb Meteora Monasteries?
It’s not too unhealthy. We’d say it is across the medium issue. We are fairly unfit, and we had a six-year-old with us. However, all of us managed to get to the monasteries simply positive (albeit wildly out of breath).
When visiting the monasteries, the important issues to recollect are to deliver water and put on first rate strolling/climbing footwear.
We have an inventory of unbelievable sling backpacks in which you’ll hold your water, garments, cash, and so on., whereas traversing the mountain. Also, go at your individual tempo and take breaks when vital. Trust me, if we are able to make it, so are you able to.
Best Monasteries in Meteora
Each of the six monasteries in Meteora has a singular mystery-filled previous. They are all distinctive and gorgeous, brimming with religious knowledge, calmness, and the promise of an unforgettable trip expertise.
There is an entry payment at every of the key monasteries. Choose a couple of monasteries to see in the event you’re on a good funds. Also, test the schedule upfront of your go to as a result of they’re closed on some days of the week.
We advocate you begin your day early as a result of the most important and most visited monasteries, Great Meteoron and Varlaam, rapidly replenish with busloads of individuals.
Let’s check out these lovely monasteries.
1. Great Meteoron Monastery
The Monastery of Great Meteoron is the biggest and oldest of the Meteora monasteries and it’s a hanging construction. It was established by a monk from Mount Athos within the 14th century AD.
The Great Meteoron Monastery is perched atop a large stone pillar at a surprising 2,017 ft above sea stage, towering over the encompassing monasteries. The advanced includes quite a few constructions, and 300 steps and resembles a small village relatively than a single monastery.
It has murals of tortured martyrs and depictions of the final judgment in its Catholicon, which is the monastery space the place monks pray. Fine frescoes and icons from the 14th to Sixteenth century may be discovered contained in the church of the Transfiguration, in addition to golden frescos of saints and a museum detailing Meteora’s previous.
Great Meteoron has three unbiased museums, together with a library with a replica of the Suda. The Byzantine encyclopedia from the tenth century alludes to quite a few forgotten historic sources. There’s additionally a gallery of recent paintings created by an artist who emulates the aesthetic of the time when the monasteries have been constructed.
Opening days and hours:
From April 1st to October thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 15:00. The monastery is closed on Tuesdays.
From November 1st to March thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 14:00. The monastery is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
2. Roussanou Monastery Meteroa
The first hermit who made a house on the rock the place the monastery is situated impressed its title, the Holy Monastery of Roussanou.
When priest-monk Arsenios served because the monastery’s abbot in 1560, beautiful wall work often called the Catholicon was created. At the tip of the Sixteenth century, the principle cathedral was constructed, and it underwent ornament within the Nineteen Thirties.
There’s a very good cause Roussanou Monastery is Meteora’s most photographed construction because it roughly sits in the course of the entire monasteries. It additionally sits on a cliff up 140 steps that stand out essentially the most towards the encompassing surroundings in comparison with different areas of Meteora.
The monastery was severely broken throughout World War II, however it was reconstructed and is at present a functioning convent.
St. Barbara, a lady whose life was dedicated to Christianity and who was later killed by her father, is honored on the Monastery of Roussanou. She is now the patron saint of coal staff, and the nunnery that bears her title is house to 13 nuns.
Opening days and hours:
From April 1st to October thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:30 – 17:00. The monastery is closed on Wednesdays.
From November 1st to March thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 14:00. The monastery is closed on Wednesdays.
3. Holy Trinity Monastery Meteora
The Holy Trinity Monastery, often called Agia Triada, is famend for showing within the James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only.” It’s situated all by itself on a stone peak and is essentially the most distant and tough to get of the Meteora monasteries.
This monastery, accessible by means of a 140-step stairway, has undergone quite a few repairs. It’s hardly surprising that it was utilized as a filming website for the 1981 James Bond movie as a result of it is picturesque and has spectacular views of Kalambaka.
Since it was constructed within the fourteenth century, solely rope ladders have been used to enter the monastery, and baskets have been used to move provides since 1925. It grew to become extra accessible after 1925 when 140 steep stairs have been reduce out of the rock.
During World War II, the Germans ransacked it and took its riches. The frescoes from the seventeenth and 18th centuries are price viewing, and the looters left behind a Gospel Book printed in Venice in 1539.
Opening days and hours:
From April 1st to October thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 17:00. The monastery is closed on Thursdays.
From November 1st to March thirty first, the visiting hours are 10:00 – 16:00. The monastery is closed on Thursdays.
4. Varlaam Monastery Meteora
Varlaam, a monk, established this monastery in 1350. Since he was the one one that had ever inhabited the rock, the monastery was left in ruins after his dying. In 1542, the opulent monastery
Catholicon was constructed by priest brothers Hosioi Theophanes and Nectarios the Apsarades in reminiscence of Agioi Pantes.
It is unbelievable how they accomplished the construction in simply 20 days after spending 20 years utilizing ropes and baskets to gather all of the supplies on the highest. Beautiful murals, an exhibit of non secular artifacts, and an awesome water barrel that previously held 12 tons of rainfall can all be seen contained in the monastery.
Varlaam is the second largest monastery and isn’t removed from Great Meteoron. You go up roughly 140 steps to succeed in the monastery. It has essentially the most monks of any Meteora monastery and has a church, refectory, and chapels crammed with sacred symbols.
Varlaam offers you essentially the most details about the structure, engineering, and constructing of the monasteries and the way the monks managed for a lot of centuries with out the good thing about fashionable expertise or services.
The historic wine casks and meals shops, in addition to the winches and nets the monks used to move provides, are nonetheless seen.
Opening days and hours:
From April 1st to October thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 16:00. The monastery is closed on Fridays.
From November 1st to March thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 15:00. The monastery is closed on Thursdays and Fridays.
5. St. Nikolaos Monastery Meteora
The St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery, one of many oldest, is well-known for being the one monastery managed by a single monk. Being the closest monastery to the settlement of Kastraki, it’s conveniently accessible on foot from there.
The St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery appears nearly prefer it sprang from the stone pillar it sits upon, making it the lowest-lying of the nice monasteries. The Greek phrase anapafsas, which suggests “resting,” is meant to have given this monastery its title from its previous use. It was a degree of leisure earlier than making the extra strenuous ascent to the opposite monasteries past.
Construction would have been difficult as a result of website’s modest measurement. The crypt, the place the monastery’s historic artifacts and codes have been as soon as saved, and the Church of St. Anthony, are situated on the monastery’s entryway. Each stage is constructed vertically, and a brief stairway results in it.
Inside are quite a few priceless artistic endeavors, together with frescoes by famend painter Theophanes Strelitzas and Theophanes the Cretan. If you retain going, you may come to a small bell tower and rooftop terrace with views that, due to their low vantage factors, are restricted to Kastraki and the Roussanou Monastery.
Opening days and hours:
From April 1st to October thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 16:00. The monastery is closed on Fridays and Sundays.
From November 1st to March thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 14:00. The monastery is closed on Fridays.
6. Monastery of St. Stephen’s Meteora
The Monastery of St. Stephen is one of the best monastery for these with mobility challenges as a result of it’s the most accessible. A number of large stairs separate you from the principle advanced, and a modest, sturdy bridge connects it to the car parking zone.
It was in-built 1400 and is the one monastery seen from Kalambaka. Nuns now reside on this monastery as an alternative of monks. St. Stephens is a particular place to go to due to the nuns’ heat welcome. The uncommon artifacts within the monastery’s non secular museum and the beautiful grounds additionally add to its allure.
Additionally, St. Stephen’s Monastery comprises two cathedrals. The fundamental 18th-century cathedral is devoted to Saint Charalambos and homes his holy relics. The previous Sixteenth-century chapel was severely broken throughout WWII and the Greek Civil War.
St. Stephen’s is thought for the gorgeous vistas of your complete Valley of Thessaly and the encompassing mountain ranges. It additionally has a panoramic backyard space that you would be able to simply get misplaced in resulting from its magnificence.
Opening days and hours:
From April 1st to October thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:00 – 13:30; 15:30 – 17:30, Sunday 9.30 – 13.30, and 15.30 – 17.30. The monastery is closed on Mondays.
From November 1st to March thirty first, the visiting hours are 09:30 – 13:00; 15:00- 17:00. The monastery is closed on Mondays.
Final Thoughts On Visiting Meteora, Greece
Meteora is a beautiful space of Greece that may generally be missed as a result of sparkly aptitude of Athens or the Mykonos.
Visiting this magnificent spot is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise, as nothing is sort of prefer it. You positively will not remorse coming right here.
Now that you have explored all of the majestic monasteries in Meteora and really feel prepared for a brand new journey, maybe have a look at a few of our different Europe journey guides.
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