Meteora, the Monasteries in the clouds

Meteora in Greek means “suspended in the air”. This extraordinary rock formation consists of enormous sandstone and conglomerate rocks, which were formed ages ago when the Thessalian plain was still a huge lake. After years of earth movements and weathering, deposits of mud and stones were gradually transformed into these very unique huge rock pillars.

Fast-forward to the Middle Ages when Meteora proved an ideal location for Christian hermits (eremites), who wanted to live in seclusion. During the 10th century, more and more hermits found refuge in Meteora, where they built cells and small chapels for prayer (prosefchitaria) in caves, high up hidden in the rocks. By the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century, a small ascetic society was created; hermits would meet in a small church they’ve built for common worship.

Things changed in the 14th century, when saint Athanasios, a monk from Mount Athos, came to the area and founded the first organized monastery (the Great Meteoron). Meteora monasticism reached its peak during the 15th century; there were 24 monasteries and several hermit caves.

Times of hardship and great turmoil followed in the area and most of the monasteries were gradually abandoned. In the 20th century carved steps and bridges were constructed; the monasteries became more accessible and a new era had begun. Nowadays there are about 15 uninhabited monasteries, many of which are in ruins, and 6 operating monasteries.

Well, first of all, visit the monasteries of course! There are six monasteries open to the public: Monastery of the Great Meteoron, Varlaam Monastery, St. Stephen Monastery, Roussanou Monastery, Holy Trinity Monastery, and St. Nicholas Anapafsas Monastery.

[*Note that the names can be a bit confusing because sometimes there are written in a different way. I’ve included the Greek names at the end of the post to help you.]

Each monastery is unique and has a different story and amazing things to discover. In order to make the most of your visit, make sure you have enough time to explore, learn more about their history, admire centuries-old frescoes of brilliant Byzantine paintings, take pictures, and visit the museums and shops that some monasteries have!

In addition, it’s a good idea to spend some time in quiet reflection, just take everything in and slow down; we hardly do that in the era of speed vacations, but if wish to, some of the smaller monasteries are a perfect place to try it.

Keep in mind that they are operating monasteries, which means monks and nuns live there, so be respectful during your visit. Many are happy to talk to you and even pray for you, but generally, they don’t like their picture taken. There’s also a dress code, long trousers for men and skirts for women (if you don’t have any, they provide one for you at the entrance).

If you don’t have enough time to visit all six of them it’s ok, but it’s definitely worth visiting at least two or three. Depending on the day you’re visiting check which ones are open (each of them is closed one day of the week). Additionally, combining visits to monasteries which are close to each other might help you save some time.

Furthermore, hiking will definitely give you the full experience of Meteora. First of all, you can walk between the monasteries, admire the view and take pictures at your own pace. However, not all of them are close to each other, so check a map to decide where you’re going beforehand.

Secondly, there are hiking trails connecting Kalambaka town and Kastraki village to the top of the hills. Some locals gave me a really good tip during my first trip there. If you don’t have much time or you just prefer to spend more of it exploring the monasteries, you should take the bus uphill, visit 1-2 monasteries and then walk down the hill. It was excellent advice because I enjoyed the hike without getting too tired and had enough time to do two trails (I chose the one starting near Varlaam monastery and the one near the Holy Trinity monastery) during my visit.

Lastly, there are several other activities to try. From mountain biking and rafting to a “hermit caves” tour and rock climbing, there’s no way you’ll ever get bored there!

Generally speaking, the best time to visit Meteora monasteries is probably either in spring or autumn. The weather is good and there are fewer crowds. However, each of the four seasons has a truly unique experience of Meteora to offer. Check out this post to find out when is the best time to visit!

If you’re spending more than a day in Meteora you’ll probably stay in the nearby town of Kalambaka (also spelled Kalabaka or Kalampaka) or in Kastraki village. Kastraki is a small picturesque village, which offers lovely views of Meteora. It has great restaurants with delicious local cuisine! Kalambaka was called Aiginion in ancient Greek and Roman times, and Stagoi in the middle ages. It’s is a small town, but it has many good options for accommodation and lots of restaurants and cafés.

A fun thing to do while you’re there is to visit the Natural History Museum of Meteora and Mushroom Museum. It’s a great way to learn more about the local natural environment and ecosystem, and, of course, more about mushrooms.

The museum also organizes various activities, such as truffle hunting! Before you leave, look for the small café, where you can get a free coffee (it’s included in the ticket price) while looking at the Meteora, and visit the museum shop. Apart from many museum gifts like T-shirts and mugs, it offers a great variety of local mushroom products, from pasta and soup mixtures to mushroom chocolate (yes, it’s a thing) and liqueurs!

Meteora is a place absolutely worth visiting. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its natural beauty and its significant history, it’s the second most important Christian Orthodox monastic community in Greece, and one of the most breathtaking places in the world. The unique and mystical atmosphere of Meteora has been a source of inspiration for people from 1000 years ago until even today. From books and music to films and video games, there are several references to Meteora in pop culture. Are you ready to be inspired and explore the wonders of Meteora yourself? Are these “columns of the sky” on your bucket list yet?