Monastaries of Meteora
Meteora, Greece
January 28, 2009
Meteora, Greece
January 28, 2009
The six Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Meteora have to be seen to be believed.
In the 11th century hermit monks moved into the natural caves formed in the improbable rock pinnacles that dot the northern edge of the Plain of Thessaly. That in itself is a staggering feat given that most of them require a highly technical climb to reach the summit. Presumably once they were up they didn’t make a habit of nipping over to the neighboring peak for a cup of sugar. They presumably re-supplied with the help of the local villagers and baskets on a rope and pulley system.
By the 14th century there were more than 20 monasteries crowning the landscape. They turned out to be ideal refuge for communities under threat from Turkish invaders. The only way up were ladders and rope pulley systems that could easily be removed and the approaches watched — and defended, if necessary.
By the 19th century Meteora was on the decline — funding dried up, the buildings fell to disrepair and the brothers had moved on. In wasn’t until the 1970′s that Meteora saw a revival largely due to tourism. Several of the monasteries have opened their doors to visitors and roads have made them more accessible. There’s still a steep climb (albeit on a well-worn path) up to each one which is perhaps why I encountered very few other visitors.
The short hikes are well worth it for a chance to visit these astounding places. Needless to say the views from the top are breathtaking and the monasteries themselves are an enthralling mix of painted vaults and airy terraces.
