About the area

Meteora is considered one of the most beautiful areas of central Greece and its monasteries are one of the country's most unique attractions. The monasteries are perched on top of towers of sandstone, which for centuries provided totally inaccessible retreats for the monks.

In the 11th century, the first hermits came on the untrodden peaks of the imposing rocks and build the hermitage of Doupiani. In the 14th century, the holy Athanasios Meteoritis formed the first organized monastic community on the rocks of Great Meteoro. Meteora Monasteries had their peak period in the 16th century but then were gradually abandoned. Of the 24 monasteries that were built between the 13th and 16th centuries, only six are still populated: The Great Meteoro, Agia Triada, Agios Nikolaos, and Varlaam by monks, Agios Stephanos and Roussanou by nuns.

The Meteora Monasteries themselves, besides providing an incredible view are full of religious treasures, wall paintings, icons, and libraries rich in old manuscripts. Every day, innumerable visitors gather here from all four corners of the world to meditate and pray. The fascinating landscape was used when filming the Bond film “For Your Eyes Only”.