GREECE THESSALY TRIKALA METEORA

Formerly, access to the monasteries was by long wooden ladders (up to 40 m long) or in a net, drawn up by rope to towers that still exist in some places. These perilous methods were obsolete when stone steps were cut in the 1920s. Today, modern roads bring tourist busses within easy walking distance to all major monasteries - unfortunately. Meanwhile, cable cars are only used to transport materials (and now and then a monk).

The Meteora monasteries are counted among the most important monasteries in Greece, second only to those on Mount Athos. They have been declared World Heritage of Culture by the UNESCO and a visit of the monasteries and their frescoed churches is certainly worth while. But perhaps even more impressive is the landscape when you walk in the deep recesses between the massive rocks.

Above left: Plan of Meteora with inhabited monasteries marked as red squares, deserted monasteries as black squares, ruinous monasteries as open squares, and some of the caves.
1: Ypapantis, - 2: Ypsolitera, - 3: Prodromos, - 4: Moni, - 5: Dragon cave, - 6: Pantokrator, - 7: Doupiani, - 8: Agios Georgios Mandila, - 9: Nik. Agiou Pnetma, - 10. Monks' prison, - 11: Agios Moclestos, - 12: Agios Alyssos, - 13: Chapel of the 12 Apostles, - 14: Agios Bantowa