Meteora
In Trikala district, in northeastern Thessaly, right in the heart of the Greek mainland, the massive rocks of Meteora command the landscape.
For centuries, scientists have been fascinated by their majestic beauty. This beautiful landscape is an ideal place for hermits as well as pilgrims seeking solitude. Meteoric rock formations consist of mud, granite, and stone that are resistant to fire. Their existence dates back to 60 million years. This place saw the development of large monastic communities, some of the largest in Orthodox history.
Absolute silence, huge rocks, tombs, caves and rock cavities are a source of inspiration for visitors who are looking for a way to get closer to the Creator. In the early 11th century, the first hermits came to the caves of Meteora, in search of a special place that would be suitable for their prayer, establishing communication with God as well as their devotion to Him. In the 14th century, Athanasius Meteorite founded the Great Meteor Monastery. Since then, hundreds of monks come to stay in it and thousands of believers come to visit this shrine.
The 400m height of the Holy Rocks often caused great problems for the monks. In addition to built ladders, monks also use ropes and nets to ensure passage from one monastery to another.
Meters were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.