My favourite interior was that of St Nicholas although smaller than the other monasteries. My favourite exterior is that of the Holy Trinity as it's perched on the highest rock next to the most accessible monastery. There are several panoramic viewpoints to visit and the best time for photography is late in the afternoon. Meteora is undoubtedly my favourite non-classical WHS in Greece and I really hope to visit again in the near future.
The landscape of this region in central Greece is just stunning, with its majestic spires reaching high into the sky. This would probably be reason enough for inscription, but the monasteries on top of the spires are just mind-blowing.
The monasteries are almost as interesting from the inside as from the outside and will give you a good overview of Byzantine architecture and painting, as well as of the Orthodox church.
Obey the clothing rules! Meteora is easy to reach on one of the numerous daytrips offered from both Athens and Thessaloniki, but the driving makes you shudder and suspect that the bus will fall off the cliffs at any moment. The geographical features at Meteora are spectacular. It's reported to be an ancient seabed. Towering limestone pilars rise out of the earth, much like what little children make with sloppy sand at the beach. The views are awe-inspiring and one can see why hermits and ascetic monks would choose to live their lives there.
Contemplation of un-earthly matters is inevitable the longer you spend there. The monastaries are lovely, though it's unfortunate that one can't be raised up in the nets they used in the past.
Women, be sure to wear long skirts or have some kind of shawl to wrap around yourselves. You will not be permitted to enter wearing pants, and certainly not if your legs aren't covered. I used a sarong and it worked out just fine. USA -. Since the monks wanted to be alone, until recently access was by means of very long ladders or a basket or net suspended on a rope.
The large monasteries look tiny on the tip of these peaks. We later walked up hundreds of steps to visit these two ancient sites. Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Visit Meteora - Timetables etc. Meteora monasteries.
The site has 1 locations. The site has 23 connections. Register Login. Login Sign up. The List. All tentative sites. Inscribed Sites Tentative Sites. Our Community. All connections. About Blog. Meteora 4. Map of Meteora. Els Visit September 4. Community Reviews Write a review. Daniel C-Hazard 5. The opening hours of the six inhabited monasteries are as follows as of October : St. Roussanou - Summer , closed on Wednesdays; Winter , closed on Wednesdays. Varlaam - Summer , closed on Fridays; Winter , closed on Thursdays and Fridays.
Nikolaos Anapafsas - Summer and Winter , closed on Fridays. One of the most picturesque WHS in Europe! Nan 4. Getting There VisitMeteora. A few more points to add: Short connection times with the train are not a concern.
The local train to Kalambaka will wait for the inter city trains. In Thessaloniki the ticket office opens really early, so no need to pick up the train ticket the day before. The bus station in Kalambaka is not at the train station, but closer to the town center.
The town is dotted with maps and the bus station is well marked on these front side Meteora, back side town. At the bus station you can also get the ticket from Trikala onwards to save yourself the hassle. The journey from Kalambaka to Trikala really takes 40min and the terminal there lies on the outskirts of town, but has sufficient amenities. Their 16th-century frescoes mark a key stage in the development of late Byzantine painting.
Meteora is situated to the east of the Pindos range in northeastern Thessaly approximately 25 km north-northwest of Trikala.
The site lies just north of the main highway between Ioannina and Larisa The protected area extends from some 0. It is 1. Owned by the state. The monasteries are under the control of the Greek Orthodox Church.
The monasteries are sited on the south-facing slopes of the Antikhassia Mountains in the upper valley of the Pinios River, as the foothills of the Pindus mountains die into the Thessalian plain. Each of the monasteries is built directly on the flat rock surfaces of abrupt high grey-brown sandstone pinnacles, which rise some m above the plain.
The pinnacles were created some 60 million years ago in the Tertiary period from sands emerging from the delta of a river, later split up and transformed by earthquakes. They are scenically extraordinary. The mountain range to the east and north of the site experiences a wide climatic variation from baking heat in summer to severe cold with heavy snowfalls in winter. Summer is the driest period, July and August being very hot.
But storms occur year round, especially at higher altitudes. The relict fauna and flora associated with these outstanding cliff faces are relatively undisturbed owing to their inaccessibility. The area includes forested hills and valleys with riverine forests of oriental plane Platanus orientalis and local endemics such as the knapweeds Centaurea lactifolia found near Koniskos village, and Centaurea kalambakensi.
The nearest protected area is the small Trikala Aesthetic Forest 78 ha , which was planted with Aleppo pine Pinus halepensis and Italian cypress Cupressus sempervivens in The vegetation cover is described as supra-Mediterranean, with a potential cover of oaks Quercus spp. Mammals include grey wolf Canis lupus and Eurasian otter Lutra lutra. The region was well-known in the s for its population of raptors, with four species of vulture, lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus, black Aegypius monachus, griffon Gyps fulvus and Egyptian Neophron percnopterus EN ; four eagle species, golden Aquila chrysaetos, Bonelli's A.
Other birds include rock and cliff haunting species, such as alpine swift Apus melba, crag martin Hirundo rupestris and red-rumped swallow Hirundo daurica.
Somber tit Parus lugubris occurs in the valley. The area remains of importance for birds of prey, and the populations when described by Grimmett and Jones in were as follows: black kite Milvus migrans ten pairs , Egyptian vulture 50 pairs, the largest population in Greece, but declining , short-toed eagle five pairs , Levant sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes , lesser-spotted eagle Aquila pomarina one pair , booted eagle three to five pairs , Bonelli's eagle one pair , peregrine falcon and honey buzzard Pernis apivorus.
The 16th-century frescoes and other religious art are of particular significance in the development of post-Byzantine painting. Today, six of the monasteries are still occupied, and an unusual seventh one, clinging to the side of a cliff, has been restored and can be visited.
Conservation Status and Threats. They illustrate the spectacular landscape features of this outstanding place and each of the seven monasteries, together with some of the livelihood activities that are an integral part of the natural landscape — grazing sheep, vine cultivation and beekeeping.
The slideshow concludes with a series of photos showing the relatively long walk along the cliff-tops through forest and grassland to the outlying monastery of Ipapandi. This recommended walk provides an appreciation of the natural environment of Meteora, away from the crowds that throng the central monasteries. Ipapandi itself is a small monastery built into a cave half way up a cliff, in a most dramatic setting and quite distinct from the other six monasteries. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
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