The name “Meteora” translates to ‘suspended in air’. When the fog and clouds roll in around these towering rock pillars, the monasteries appear to be floating in the air. This happens more regularly in the Winter when the fog gets stuck in and around the base of the rocks in the valleys. 

As early as the 9th century hermits were climbing these towering rocks and taking refuge in the caves and crevices, appreciating the silence, tranquility and being close to their God. In the 14th – 16th century monastic communities began to build monasteries as both homes and places of worship for the devout monks. These structures were literally built from the ground up, one hanging rope, many rope ladders, by one death-defying rock-climbing-monk at a time. As time passed, they began implementing pulley systems to raise building supplies and food to the top, but for hundreds of years, monks scaled the rock walls up and down each time they left the premises.

Three of the most well-known monasteries: Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Roussanou were places of worship and places of refuge from invaders. They were fortified and had difficult access which kept them safe from war and conflict. 

From the 15th – 19th centuries, the monasteries became even more important housing manuscripts and religious artifacts, along with Greek revolutionaries. Their remote location and difficult access meant that they survived both wars and raids, keeping history and culture intact.

At the height of monastic activity in this region, there were 24 active monasteries. Many of them crumbled due to natural causes and the remainder were abandoned after the Ottoman occupation and then economic decline in the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Today, there are six active monasteries. By the 20th century, access to the monasteries changed with the building of roads and staircases leading to some of the largest of the structures. Now tourism is a mainstay of their existence. Fees to enter the monasteries paid by locals and tourists alike assist with the upkeep, renovations and livelihood of the monks who remain active in their communities.

In 1988 Meteora was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognizing its unique natural and cultural significance, along with preserving Byzantine art, frescoes, and a glimpse into monastic life. 

Fascinating right?! 

Lots of people visiting Meteora do a bus tour to see most of the monasteries from incredible viewpoints. A couple of them have parking lots and walkways to them despite their precarious positions a top the rocks. They are safe to visit, albeit be prepared for stairs! You’ll also need to dress modestly and women will need to wear a skirt that covers your knees, although they can be borrowed on entry.

We did a sunset bus tour on our first night in the city and saw the monasteries from the bus windows and various viewpoints. The roads are narrow and even late in the day when most bus tours have left, there is still lots of traffic. Drivers often are busy looking at views instead of worrying about other cars on the road. Yikes! I was thankful to be in a small bus and not trying to drive and see the views!

It was grey and dreary for our sunset tour and yet it was still beautiful! We got out at a couple of viewpoints for better views and then climbed back on the small bus. The guide had a microphone and even at the back of the bus we could hear the history and stories pretty well. If that was all that we had done, it would have been pretty great.