A trip full of spirituality, the time to find yourself, know yourself and know what you want. In Meteora you will also have the opportunity to admire, to know about religion, history, which is more interesting each time the trip progresses. You will see the wonder of nature and will be part of the architecture of the place. Without a doubt, a very interesting and magical adventure.
In the center of Greece, specifically in Meteora, some wooden structures that were clinging to the rocks of the place were built in the 11th century , and with the passage of time they began using the caves that were excavated in the eroded rocks. All of this was part of a plan by the devout hermits to obtain more solitude and isolation from the rest, in order to have the peace they were looking for.
In the 14th century, the monk Athanasios founded the first monastery on a rock called Great Meteoron, and from that the name of the complex of monasteries was born: Meteora. This word means “suspended in the air”, which perfectly describes these buildings. There were 24 monasteries that worked and had ornate frescoes and huge libraries with very old and rare handwritten.
The monasteries slide and rise through the broad plain of Thessaly with wooden galleries and roofs that top the majestic rock towers. In the middle of them, there is a path that connects these religious sanctuaries and makes the journey more comfortable and easier for visitors. Meteora was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
These constructions were made on sandstone rocks that rise like sentinels to the west. Due to its height above the plains, it would seem impossible to believe that once, many years ago, that area was under water. Well, that’s the way it was. In the past, there was a big lake that flowed into the Aegean Sea, a mass of stones, sand and mud formed a consortium divided by erosion. What gave life to the beautiful rock formations that Meteora has today were the heavy rains, winds and earthquakes.
The place has a road that connects the six monasteries now inhabited, open to visitors, as well as the bustle of Kalambaka, which extends under the rocks. This magnificent place enjoyed a position of such spirituality that only the true ones could visit it.
For centuries there have been paths that led the monks to their sanctuaries, today they continue to take tourists to the center of this wonderful place, known as the geological garden.
Two kilometers from Kalambaka, below the outcrop where the Holy Spirit Monastery is located, is the town of Kastraki. Although this place is disabled, it is the starting point of several routes. The central square of the town is surrounded by cafes where you can sunbathe in the morning while you drink coffee.
There is a path that is one of the most popular of the place. It is a one-day walk, about 10 km that goes north, to the church of Agios Georgios Mandelas, which directly leads to a beautiful forest. This route meanders through the woods, passes through the main road and goes through the hundreds of meters of monasteries of Agios Nikolaos, which is near the Doupiani rock, shaped like teeth.
At the end of the road, on the rocks of the sanctuary, you will admire one of the best views in the world. The plain of Thessaly, the surrounding massifs of Pindos Antichasia and the river of Peneios below, will leave you breathless and you will feel that you are suspended in the air.
The best time to visit these sanctuaries is in spring and autumn, since in summer there are a lot of tourists and the monasteries are busier. The easiest way to get to this place is by plane, the nearest airport is in Thessaloniki, about 4 hours away. You can also take a train there or to Athens.
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