Kastraki · Trikala, Thessaly · Greece

Meteora

religiousviewpointwalkculturehistoricgoogle verified

moderate

10/10

best: morning

adventurous, mysterious, contemplative, peaceful

A local would say...

Monks hauled themselves up these rock towers in baskets because no stairs existed — the rope was changed only 'when God wills it'.

Extraordinary monasteries perched atop massive smooth sandstone pinnacles, some rising 600m above sea level — built from the 14th century by monks seeking isolation so complete that early arrivals were hauled up by rope and basket. Each monastery is built around a central courtyard with chapels, monks' cells and refectories, and contains remarkable frescoes. The Grand Meteora Monastery, founded by St Athanasios, became the richest in Greece after a Serbian emperor renounced his empire to become a monk.