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Meteora

Kalambaka · Greece

Background

World Heritage since
1988
Type of site
Mixed
Protected area
2.7 km²

Monasteries built on top of sandstone pillars above the plain of Thessaly, between Kalambaka and Kastraki. Monks settled on these 'columns of the sky' from the 11th century, and 24 monasteries were built at the height of the hermit revival.

Their 16th-century frescoes mark a key stage in post-Byzantine painting, UNESCO says. Six monasteries still stand and can be visited: Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Holy Trinity, St Stephen, St Nicholas Anapausas and Roussanou.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 11th c.First hermits settle in the rocks
  2. 1356Great Meteoron founded
  3. 16th c.Frescoes painted
  4. 1961St Stephen's becomes a convent
  5. 1988Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Great Meteoron
    The largest monastery, founded 1356.
  2. 2
    Varlaam
    With Great Meteoron, one of the largest monasteries.
  3. 3
    Holy Trinity
    Up 140 steps, made famous by a James Bond film.
  4. 4
    St Stephen and Roussanou
    St Stephen has been a convent since 1961. Both have road viewpoints.
  5. 5
    Monks' Footpaths
    Old paths between the rocks from Kastraki.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Closures Rotate
Each monastery closes one day a week in summer, more in winter. Check before you go.
Dress Code
Men need trousers below the knee. Women need skirts and covered shoulders; skirts can be borrowed.
Open From 9am
Monasteries usually open at 9am and close between 3 and 5:30pm.
Pay at Each
Each monastery charges its own entry.
St Stephen's Midday Break
St Stephen's closes for two hours in the early afternoon. Every monastery has toilets.

A Day Among the Monasteries

From the GoGo Kalambaka guide · Open the Kalambaka Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Great Meteoron90 min
    The largest monastery.
  2. 11:00
    Varlaam Monastery1 hr
    One of the two largest monasteries.
  3. 14:30
    Roussanou Monastery1 hr
    With the road viewpoints.
  4. 16:00
    St Stephen's Monastery1 hr
    The convent and its viewpoints.
  5. 18:30
    Sunset Over Meteora75 min
    The rocks glowing at sunset.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: May–Jun, Sep. Freezing days in Jan.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Dec (90 mm), driest Aug (23 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 455 · Wikipedia: Meteora · Wikivoyage: Meteora (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Kalambaka guide · UNESCO listing