Meteora Greece Monasteries

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Come and visit the UNESCO Meteora and its Monasteries in Greece
Come and visit the UNESCO Meteora and its Monasteries in Greece

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Many of you will have heard of Meteora and the Meteora Monasteries in Central Greece. It’s a UNESCO protected World Heritage site and is famous for its pinnacles of rocks and caves, formed approx. 60 million years ago (can you get your head around that?). From the 9th century, hermit monks used to live in dugouts amongst the rocks.

60 million year old pinnacles of Meteora Greece - LifeBeyondBorders
60 million year old pinnacles of Meteora Greece – LifeBeyondBorders

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Later, beautiful monasteries’ were built – a total of 20 by the beginning of the 14th Century.  Access to them was deliberately difficult (due to threats of invasion) and only via very long ladders and/or rope bridges.

Today only 6 Meteora monasteries stand:

  • The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron – the largest of the 6
  • The Holy Monastery of Varlaam
  • The Holy Monastery of Rousanou
  • The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas
  • The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen – damaged by the Nazis in WWII and now taken over, rebuilt and inhabited by Nuns
  • The Monastery of the Holy Trinity – location for the 1981 filming of the James Bond  “For Your Eyes Only”
Great Meteoran Monastery of Meteora- Greece - LifeBeyondBorders
Great Meteoran Monastery of Meteora- Greece – LifeBeyondBorders

Visiting the Meteora Greece Monasteries as a woman

Going into any monastery, if you are a woman you must keep your shoulders covered and also be wearing a skirt.

Ironically, if you are wearing trousers or jeans, you must STILL wear one of the little wrap around skirts they give you upon entry.  Even short skirts must be covered; the nun explained that women must display modesty (no showing of legs) and no ‘dressing like men’ – aka: trousers.

Tips for visiting Meteora, Greece

  • Situated 3.5hr train ride away from Athens (beautiful btw; cuts through countryside and stunning views)
  • The small town of Kalambaka is where to base yourself
  • My father and I stayed in Guesthouse Elena, perfectly located for the Monasteries and rocks, and nestled right amongst them
  • I suggest hiring a taxi when you arrive in Kalambaka to take you around the monasteries, unless you enjoy hiking and your fitness level is good
The beautiful landscape of Meteora in Greece - LifeBeyondBorders
The beautiful landscape of Meteora in Greece – LifeBeyondBorders

I hope you’ve enjoyed my brief overview of the Meteora Monasteries and you’ll choose to visit the monasteries of Meteora when you come to Greece.

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Tips for visiting Meteora Greece - LifeBeyondBorders
Tips for visiting Meteora Greece – LifeBeyondBorders

17 COMMENTS

  1. Look forward to the rest of your challenge run…can’t believe we’ve had 14 days already!
    –Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

  2. Yes! Magical it is – check back later this week for photos of Meteora.
    And the Challenge is 14 days in, that’s right!

  3. Greece IS a beautiful country, aesthetically and in nature too. I feel proud to call her my home.
    Santorini is nice in the obvious, ‘Disney’ way. There are lots of lovely smaller, more traditional, more ‘Greek’ islands that are equally, if not nicer.

  4. Love your post, and also loved touring Greece and the monastaries at Meteora are amazing. Greec is a beautiful country and the Greek islands are incredible. Been to most but Santorini is my favourite.

  5. Meteora is one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited. While during my visit I only visit a few of the monasteries I’d love to return and see the rest and spend more time in the area.

  6. Yes – Meteora certainly has some magic about it. I hope you get to return one day Stephanie

  7. The ones listed in my post you can visit. They are inhabited so therefore the people naturally need ways to get in and out of them. Less monasteries stand now than in the past.

  8. Thanks Ferne.

    If you visit, I would highly recommend a driver and a local one can be hired easily