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Meteora
Meteora
is one of the biggest and most important group
of monasteries in Greece after those on Mount
Athos. The first traces of the history of the
Meteora monasteries date from the 11th century
when the first hermits settled there. The rock
monasteries have been characterized by Unesco
as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage.
The
most important monasteries of Meteora are:
The
Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron. It is the biggest
of the Meteorite monasteries. The church katholikon,
honoured to the 'Transfiguration' was built in
the middle of 14th century (1387/88) and decorated
in 1483 and 1552. Today, the monastery is used
as a museum.
The
Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second, after the Great Meteoro,
big in size monastery. The church, honoured to the three Bishops,
is of the Athonite type (cross-in-square with dome and choirs),
with spacious esonarthex (an entrance covered by a roof outside
the front door of the church) surrounded by dome. It was built
in 1541/42 and decorated in 1548, while the esonarthex was decorated
in 1566. The old refectory is now used as a museum. North of the
church is the parekklesion (side chapel) of the Three (Bishops)
built in 1627 an decorated in 1637 AD.
The Holy Monastery of Rousanou. It is dedicated
to 'The Transfiguration' but honoured to Saint
Barbara. The katholikon (main church), in the
Athonite type, was founded in the middle of 16th
century and decorated in 1560. Both, the katholikon
and the reception halls are on the ground floor
while the 'archontariki' (main waiting area),
cells and subsidiary rooms are scattered in the
basement and the first floor.
The Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapausas
is the first monastery you will see on the way
from Kastraki to Meteora. The katholikon, dedicated
to Saint Nicholas, is a single-nave church with
small dome built in the beginning of 16th century.
It was decorated by the Cretan painter Theophanis
Strelitzas or Bathas in 1527.
The
Holy Monastery of Saint Stephen. It is one of the most attainable
as you don't have to cope with innumerable stairs to reach it.
The small single-nave church of Saint Stephen was built in the
middle of 16th century and decorated around 1545. The katholikon,
honoured to Saint Charalambos, was built in the Athonite type
in 1798. The old refectory of the convent is used as a museum
nowadays.
The
Monastery of Holy Trinity is very difficult to
reach. Visitors have to cross the valley and continue
high up through the rock before arriving outside
the entrance. The church is in the cross-in-square
type with the dome based on two columns. It was
built in 1475-76 and decorated in 1741. The spacious
esonarthex was built in 1689 and decorated in
1692. A small skeuophylakeion was added next to
the church in 1684.
A great part of the monasteries (katholika, cells,
other buildings) has been restored while the rest
is being restored. In many of them, the conservation
of the wall paintings has been finished.
By
car:
From Athens the distance to Meteora is 357 km.
You drive north following the signs for Trikala
then Kalambaka - Meteora. The distance between
Kalambaka and Kastraki is 2 Km.
By bus: From Athens get to the
main bus (KTEL) station at 260 Liosion street
in Athens (tel 210 8311434). A one way ticket
costs about 20 Euro.
By organized tour: see our Excursions
and Travel Agents
pages.
The
Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second, after the Great Meteoro,
big in size monastery. The church, honoured to the three Bishops,
is of the Athonite type (cross-in-square with dome and choirs),
with spacious esonarthex (an entrance covered by a roof outside
the front door of the church) surrounded by dome. It was built
in 1541/42 and decorated in 1548, while the esonarthex was decorated
in 1566. The old refectory is now used as a museum. North of the
church is the parekklesion (side chapel) of the Three (Bishops)
built in 1627 an decorated in 1637 AD.
The
Holy Monastery of Saint Stephen. It is one of the most attainable
as you don't have to cope with innumerable stairs to reach it.
The small single-nave church of Saint Stephen was built in the
middle of 16th century and decorated around 1545. The katholikon,
honoured to Saint Charalambos, was built in the Athonite type
in 1798. The old refectory of the convent is used as a museum
nowadays.
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