Meteora Monasteries, Kalabaka—Greece

Meteora Monasteries, Kalabaka—Greece. Six precariously perched monasteries of the original twenty-four, remain open to visitors. Built high upon marvels of nature, these monasteries are a beauty to behold. Women can’t visit the monasteries sleeveless and need to wear trousers or skirts/dresses lower than their knees. Men, no shorts or sleeveless T-shirts allowed.

365-kms north of Athens, a 4-hour train ride. The best way to get here from Athens is by booking a day tour through a travel agent. Overall, it saves time, anxiety and money, The tour price includes pick-up/drop-off by taxi from your hotel to the railway station. Return train tickets to Kalabaka. Pick-up at Kalabaka train station by a personal taxi for the day. The driver is also a guide who will take you to the monasteries and scenic view-points. He will also explain local history and goegraphy to you. Lunch is included in the package and the driver chaperones you through all this. He will then drop you off back at the railway station. Approx. €150/- per person, totally worth it.

Meteora Monasteries, Kalabaka—Greece

1. Holy Trinity
2. Varlaam
3. St. Stephen
4. Rousanou
5. St. Nicholas
6. Great Meteoron

1. Holy Trinity Monastery

To get to the Holy Trinity monastery, you walk up 145 steps cut into the rock. You pass the chapel of Saint John the Baptist with its wall paintings from 1682.

This 15th-century monastery dedicated to the Holy Trinity was featured in the James Bond movie – For Your Eyes Only. It is decorated with 18th-century wall paintings.

2. Varlaam Monastery

Founded in 1517 the Varlaam Monastery houses an important collection of relics, intricately carved wooden crosses, icons, embroidered epitaphoi and many other ecclesiastical treasures.

This is the second largest monastery. You have to climb 195 steps carved in the rock to get to it.

Sitting precariously on top of this rock pillar, another view of Varlaan monastery.

And a close-up from this angle.

3. St. Stephen Monastery

This monastery is easy to access by means of a simple road. It is a convent (Nunnery).

From this vantage point, you get an unimpeded view of the plain towards Kalabaka.

One of the many fine works of art from the masters of that period.

4. Rousanou Monastery

Founded in 1529 and dedicated to Saint Barbara, You have to cross a small bridge from another peak to get to it.

The church contains remarkable wall paintings, wood icon-stasis, panel icons and icon stands

The monastery stands atop this magnificent natural rock pillar that seems to be balancing on a point. People actually dare to park in the little gap there.

5. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsa

Agios Nikolaos Anapafsa is a 16th-century monastery. It is known for its well-preserved wall paintings, dating from 1527 by the renowned Cretan Iconographer Theophanis Bathas-Strelitzas. The lowest of the six monasteries but still around 200-steps to climb.

Definitely worth a visit. The highly expressive frescoes are masterpieces of harmony by Theophanis in particular the Virgin and Child and the Last Judgement

6. The Great Meteoron—Holy Monastery of the Metamorfossis (Transfiguration of Christ)

Founded in 1340, this is the oldest and biggest of all the monasteries.

A definite must visit. There are a striking series of frescos by Theophanis which depict the persecution of Christians by the Romans in somewhat gruesome detail.

Great Meteoron monastery serves as the main museum for visitors to Meteora.

Perched on the most imposing rock, it occupies a commanding position among the monastic complex of Meteora

Some Of The Paintings From The Great Meteoron Monastery

These remarkable frescos of the main church and the narthex are believed to be created by Georgie, student of Theophanis the Cretan.

This is the Bell of The Great Meteoron monastery. It is rammed with a solid shaft of wood and makes three distinctive resonating deep rings.