While planning our trip to Greece, the Monasteries weren't even on our radar. But Craig and Stephen said that they would like to see them, and we agreed. We are so thankful that we did! The rocks of Meteora are stunning and breath-taking on their own, but to see the ancient Monasteries perched on top of them is just amazing!
We were able to take the local bus from our guest house to the top Monastery and then walk down to the rest of them. We visited three Monasteries the first day and two the second.
Between the four of us we took a bizillion pictures! We have tried to put in the best, but it was hard to choose so we have probably over done it - as usual! : )
We had good weather but we did get rained on the second day. But, it didn't dampen the experience at all. So, so glad that Meteora was on our itinerary.
The first, and largest Monastery. The Monasteries were built beginning in the 13th century, although hermits and Monks had been living in the mountainside caves since the 10th century
The stone stairway leading up to the Monastery
Craig and Stephen before we began the climb up
Ready to visit our first Monastery!
The tower - Monks and supplies were lowered down and raised up using a rope basket!
A shrine in front of the Monastery
The entrance to the Monastery
The tower room where the rope basket was hauled up and down
Inside the Monastery store room. These are operating Monasteries and as such, women must wear skirts/dresses to enter. All of the Monasteries provided wrap-around skirts - hence my stylish attire that you will see throughout these pictures
The hand-carved stairs
All of the Monasteries have beautiful frescoes on the walls
The outside of the church
All of the Monasteries had beautiful gardens
As we left the first Monastery, you could see the second one, Varlaam, in the background. Also note Stephen, who was doing some rock-climbing!
Varlaam Monastery
This huge rock guards the entrance to Varlaam. It's at quite an angle!
Lee, Stephen and Craig, under the rock
Varlaam Monastery
The tower of Varlaam - looks like it's leaning in the picture, but we didn't notice that when we were there
Varlaams' room where the rope basked is hoisted up and down with people and supplies
The largest, most ancient wine barrel that we had ever seen! Craig and Stephen bought a bottle of their red wine, and it was really good - a heavy, dark red, reminiscent of a zinfandel
Wine barrel from the side - those are some stave's!!
I'm at the end of the barrel, which gives perspective on it's size
Lee, Pat and Craig - you can tell that we were impressed!*
Craig and Stephen, as we prepare to walk down to the next Monastery
This Monastery is actually a Nunnery!
Amazing perched up there, isn't it?
Roussanou Nunnery
The back side of the Nunnery, which shows more recent construction and the bridge that leads to the entrance
Another beautiful garden! All of the Monasteries had bee hives and produced their own honey
The Greek and Monastic flags
We didn't get to visit the Monastery of St. Nikolas as we ran out of time. But here are some great pictures of it, perched at the top of a rock!
Monastery of St. Nikolas in the far right
The rocks with the Monastery on the left
The Monastery of St. Nicholas
On the second day we took the bus to the beginning of the road to the St. Stephen and Holy Trinity Monasteries. We visited St. Stephen first, then walked back to Holy Trinity
St. Stephen's Monastery, which is also a Nunnery
The beautiful gardens at St. Stephens
The hook to hoist the rope basket up and down the mountain
And here's the rope basket that the Monks and provisions rode up and down in. According to the history of the Monasteries, someone asked how often they replaced the rope. The answer was "when the Lord lets it break"! This rope looks pretty new, so probably safe
We saw the talanton at each of the Monasteries, but St. Stephen provided an explanation
The wooden talanton at the far right archway
The village of Kalambaka with the Monastery of the Holy Trinity on the left
The Monastery of the Holy Trinity
The red roofs of Kalambaka
Another view of the Roussanou Nunnery
If you expand this picture you can see the Monastery of St. Nikolas behind the Roussanou Nunnery
Stephen and Craig with the Holy Trinity Monastery in the background and Kalambaka below
Rocks and Kastraki
The village of Kastraki - our guest house is the second building on the right - couldn't get much closer to the rocks and Monasteries of Meteora! Good job on the accommodation, Stephen!
More of the fascinating geology of Meteora
As you might imagine, this area is a mecca for rock climbers! If you expand this picture and the one above you will see some of them clinging to the side of this rock! Crazy!!
After two amazing days at Meteora, we took the train back into Athens, where we spent our last full day before heading home. We did some souvenir shopping and had a last dinner - for this trip, anyway - at a wonderful outdoor taverna. We watched the sunset and listened to Greek music and soaked up the "Greek way". It was a trip that we will never forget! Thank you to Craig and Stephen, for being such intrepid travelers!
*Thank you Craig for sharing your photos!
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