Meteora Monasteries

We visited 2 of the 6 living monasteries. One is closed each day of the working week. The monasteries and the towering rocks seem impossibly suspended in air, bending your mind around how either one was formed. Each monastery is built around the centre courtyard surrounded by monks' cells, chapels, and a refectory. In the centre of each courtyard is the church. 

The first monastery we went to is called Moni Megalou Meteorou, built in the 14th century, which is the best known of Meteora. It is an imposing form built on the highest rock in the valley.

                               
                             views from the monastery

                                             views

                            workshop

                                wine keg

                                          courtyard

                               chapel

                                courtyard

Meteora is a mecca for rock climbers of all abilities. We spotted these from the monastery.

The second monastery we viewed was Moni Varlaam. It has a small museum, an original rope basket used for hauling up provisions and monks, and fine late-Byzantine frescoes.

                                         kitchen

               Another wine keg. These monks are winoes!

This pulley was used to haul a basket up and down for provisions.

                                              courtyard

                      
                                         courtyard

The road from the town of Kastraki that leads to the 6 monasteries.

                           small chapel

We rode the bus to the monestary that was at the top and walked down to the other monastery and then to the town of Kastraki.

This is the basket that was used to haul up provisions. A large, heavy net was also used.

                             Our walk down the hill

                             Platforms used by rock climbers

                                       vineyards