🏔️ Meteora Monasteries
Greece
About This Sacred Site
The Meteora monasteries are an extraordinary complex of Eastern Orthodox monasteries built atop massive natural sandstone pillars in central Greece. Six active monasteries remain from an original twenty-four, perched on rock towers rising up to 400 meters above the Thessalian plain. Hermit monks began inhabiting the caves in the 9th century, and the first monasteries were built in the 14th century. The monks originally accessed the summits via removable ladders and net baskets hauled up by rope and windlass, a journey that could take half an hour.
Key Facts
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988
- •Six active monasteries remain from an original twenty-four
- •The rock pillars were formed 60 million years ago and rise up to 400 meters
- •Monks originally ascended in net baskets pulled by rope and windlass
- •The Great Meteoron monastery, founded c. 1340, is the largest and oldest
Location
Coordinates: 39.7217, 21.6306
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