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METEORA
Meteora is a complex of huge sandstone and conglomerate rocks in Thessaly, near the town of Kalampaka. They are home to the second largest monastic community in Greece after Mount Athos, with monasteries perched on top of the rocks. The forbidding landscape attracted monks, who settled there from the 11th century onwards.
Despite incredible difficulties, a total of 24 monasteries were built, of which six are active today. Unesco-listed since 1988, Meteora is a treasure trove of post-Byzantine art, as several churches were painted by such 16th century masters as Theophanes the Cretan and Frangos Katelanos. Landmark sites include the Monasteries of the Transfiguration of Christ (“Great Meteoron”), Barlaam, the Holy Trinity and St Nicholas Anapafsas. The visitor is stunned by the breath-taking landscape, while the Meteora rocks are also ideal for hiking and climbing.