Tour in Meteora

Meteora is without any doubt one of the most beautiful places in Greece and in the world! The view of the dark rocks is absolutely breathtaking. And it was the ideal place to build monasteries "suspended in mid air". It's one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece.

More than 60 million years ago, the area was still covered by water. A large river had its estuary in this area. The river waters transferred sand, pebbles, stones and generally several materials to the estuary. Due to a devastating earthquake in prehistoric times the Tempi valley opened, and the water flowed to the sea. Immense natural powers and the erosion, caused by rain and wind, created the strange rock formations.

Even in the 9th century the caves had been inhabited by hermits. From the 14th century and onwards the monasteries were founded.

Varlaam Monastery (source)	Great Meteoro (source)	Agios Stefanos (source)

The Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ (Megalo Meteoro or Great Meteoro) : It's the biggest monastery, founded in the 14th century by Saint Athanasios Meteoritis . The old catholicon has been preserved with splendid wall paintings from the Cretan school (1552). Of equal merit as a work of art is the carved and gilded wooden iconostasis erected in 1791. The kitchen is one of the oldest of the monastic buildings. The cellar, the old refectory and some interesting exhibitions can be visited as well.

The Holy Monastery Varlaam : The rock was inhabited in the 14th century, when the hermit Varlaam founded there his hermitage. The monastery's history began in the 16th century. It’s the second biggest monastery of the region. The catholicon was built in the 16th century and decorated with splendid murals. The museum is worth seeing, with a gold embroidered Epitaphios of green velvet and other valuable objects. It’s also interesting to see the old tower with the cable winch and the net which was formerly used to pull up the monks.

The Holy Monastery of Agios Stefanos : It's one of the oldest monasteries, but easily accessible .The old catholicon was built in the 14th century and dedicated to Saint Stefanos, while the new church was erected in 1798 with a remarkable iconostasis. The old refectory, today a museum, displays numerous portable icons, gospel books with pages illuminated with wonderful miniatures and initial letters, sacred vessels, silver gospel book covers, gold embroidered maniples as well as stoles and liturgical vestments.

Holy Trinity (source)	Roussanou Monastery (source)	Saint Nicolas (source)

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity : The rock with the monastery presents the most attractive and characteristic picture of Meteora. The monastery was founded in the 15th century. The old catholicon has been preserved as well as the old tower with its net. From the rock the view is breathtaking.

The Holy Monastery Roussanou : The rock was inhabited early, but the monastery's history began in the 16th century. In the old catholicon, dating from the 16th century, marvelous wall paintings of exceptional quality from the Cretan school have been preserved in a very good state.

The Holy Monastery of Saint Nicolas Anapafsas : The monastery achieved its present shape in the 16th century, when the small church was built. The famous wall paintings by Theophanes (1527), a very famous painter of the Cretan school, surpass all expectation. They are the only paintings that bear his signature. Those he executed in other monasteries are unsigned. The old tower can be seen, too.