700 Meteora's above Sea Level

Tori’s European Escapade

Summer 2012

August

15/8

Metéora - Greece

For the first time we head into areas that are slightly off the main highway of the European tourist route. Meteora was one of these destinations I was highly excited about. If you ever were a Linkin Park fan, the name will kindle a memory - but the town has little to do with alternative rock music. Greek for 'suspended rocks' the area is one of the largest and most significant complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the world. There are six monastries built on the tops of the natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly. The caves of the rock plinths have been proved to have been inhabited for 50 millennia. The more current history began in the 9th century when a group of monks lived in the hollows and caves at altitudes of up to 550m, that combined with the sheer terrain, ensured a life of near solitude. In 1372 the great Meteoron monastery was built on Broad Rock, and the only means of reaching it was by climbing a long ladder, which was drawn up whenever the monks felt threatened. At the end of the 14th century more than 20 monasteries were built, six of which remain today. Access to the monasteries was difficult and often dangerous - the belief that only the worthy would safely make it across the eyries. Steps were cut into the rock and delicate rope bridges and ladders were the only way in and out.

The monasteries are now slightly more accessible and we entered the two we were visiting by a narrow road, modern bridges and the winding, and very steep stairs cut into the cliff face.

The view across the Plain of Thessaly.

One of the more assessable monasteries on the left  - The Holy Monastery of Varlaam. (this is a trifle deceiving - see the same monastery from a different angle below).

Inside the Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron.

Looking down to the town on max zoom.

The best pointy pic - perfect angle - thanks Ryan!

Tunnels cut into the rock to help build the stairs - the cliff is just too sheer for other options.

Ryan teetering on the edge of a rock. I was teetering on my own rock and we took pics of each other - Ryan still has yet to send the one of me - RYAN I hope you are reading this! The drop from here is pretty extreme - that rock just curves off into metres of nothing - it definitely got the heart racing!

The view up from my rock to The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron.

You can see the dangly rope still used to hoist up supplies.

Myself, Kimmie and Millie (both Aus) on a modern bridge spanning one of the death drops between the road and the monastery.