Meteora

Meteora is one of the highlights of this tour.  It is the name given to an area of huge limestone outcrops which rise up to 400 metres above the town of Kalabaka, where we stayed.  Humans have inhabited caves in these rocks for over 20,000 years.  On top of several, over the last 500 years, monks have built monasteries, perched on top of sheer rock pillars to provide a safe refuge from invaders or other hostile people.  There were once over twenty of these, but today just six remain.  Until quite recently the only access was via a basket or net on the end of a rope, which had to be hauled up by the monks, so if they did not want to come up there was no way you could.  In about the 1970's the first road up into the area was built and this road now takes you to quite close to these monasteries.

The Meteora area from Google Maps.  Kalabaka town is on the right.

They have now cut steps and paths and put bridges up to these monasteries, and open them up to tourists most days, selling entry tickets and with souvenir shops to raise income.  They are still functioning monasteries, and parts of them remain out of bounds to visitors.

We visited the Varlaam Monastery which is the largest (male) monastery, and after visited the Rousanou nunnery, which was converted from a monastery only about 50 years ago.

The approaches to the Varlaam monastery, with the old rope lift up at top right.

A net on the end of this rope was the only way up until quite recently.

This monastery is quite large despite its precarious location, with a large courtyard (below) and space for food gardens on ledges below.  All these building materials had to be hoisted up here on that cable, or carried up the new path and steps on someone's back!

All ladies must wear skirts or otherwise cover themselves here.  Sue in the courtyard.

The 12,000 litre oak water tank the monks used to rely upon.

The view across the landscape, with the town in the valley beyond.

From the first monastery we had this view of the Rousanou Nunnery below.  Also showing the new road.

Before the new road was put in, all access was via walking tracks from the town below.  After the Varlaam monastery we moved on to the Rousanou Nunnery, which is much smaller.

There is a nice bush track down to the nunnery.  It had started to rain.

The nuns have found space for this beautiful garden.

Another view of this massive landscape, this time with Varlaam monastery visible at top right.

It started pouring with rain.  Waterfalls were cascading off the rocks.

The view up after the rain cleared.  You can see the little bridge across the chasm at right, and the steps up.

Like the monastery, the nunnery contains a central church within it, lavishly decorated with frescoes from the 1500's and 1600's and depicting the all biblical stories, the saints, apostles, and perils of hell, etc., for the faithful to see.  The cells of the monks or nuns are closed to the public.

On our way home we stopped to photograph a couple of the other monasteries, but did not visit them:

The monastery of Holy Trinity was used in a James Bond movie.

The cable car across to the Holy Trinity (above).

The monastery of Saint Stephen, with our hotel visible in the town 300 metres below.

Just to prove we are really here!