'''Meteora''' (Greek: ''Meteora'') is one of the gems of Greece. Located near the towns of Kalampaka and Kastraki in northwestern Thessaly it consists of a number of rock pinnacles topped with a total of 24 monasteries.
Get In
From Athens you can take either a train or a bus up to Meteora. The trains servicing the northern part of Greece leave from the Larissa station, while the buses serving that part of the country leave from Terminal B, at Liossion Street. Train schedules can be obtained from OSC website and buses usually leave once every two hours. Both rides are long (about 4.5 to 5 hours) so make sure to bring a good book.
You can hire a taxi right at the train station to take you to all the monasteries for about 30-40 euros(in 2005). However, reaching the spires by foot gives visitors a much more tangible feeling of the Meteora's majesty. It is a difficult hike, but experiencing the sanctuaries like the monks did a few hundred years ago only increases its wonder. In the summer, be prepared for the Greek heat, and as the hike takes a whole day, bring a few liters of water.
See
The following monasteries can be visited and are located nearby the road circuiting Meteora. Clockwise you'll find:
'''Agiou Nikolaou monastery''' (St. Nickolas Anapausas)
'''Agias Varvaras Rousanou monastery''' (St. Barbara)
'''Varlaam monastery'''
'''Megalou Meteorou monastery''' (Great Meteoron)
'''Agias Triados monastery''' (Holy Trinity)
'''Agiou Stefanou monastery''' (St. Stephen, the only monastery for women)
An entrance fee is expected by some monasteries which might be about ? 2. Inexpensive, mass produced icons may be purchased in the monasteries for as little as ? 1. They do not have the variety of the factories, however.
The monasteries were not originally built for tourism. Tourism, essential to the monasteries survival, has also destroyed their character. They are no longer contemplative.
Do
'''Walk''' along the paths leading to the rocks and monasteries.
'''Climb''' the rocks.
Eat
Sleep
The nearby towns of Kalampaka and Kastraki both offer different kinds of accommodation. Choose Kastraki if you want to stay close to the rocks
Hotel Odysseon. n Kalampaka. 0302432022320. nfo@hotelodysseon.gr. 0302432075307. ttp://www.hotelodysseon.gr. 0.00 euro for a double room breakfast included. Just on the foothills of Meteora with panoramic view to the rocks, you can find this charming and cheap hotel on the way from the center of the town towards Meteora and Kastraki Village just before you exit the town. checkin: 12PM checkout:12PM price from
Archontiko Mesohori. n Kastraki. 30 24320 77125. nfo@archontikomesohori.gr. 30 24320 77164. ttp://www.archontikomesohori.com. 10.00 euro per suite. Mobile: +30 6936786418. In the old habitation of one of the most impressive picturesque villages of Greece, this old mansion of the 19th century has been renovated to become a most attractive luxury small hotel. price from
Respect
Women are required to wear '''skirts''' covering the knees and have their shoulders covered, too. Most of the monastaries do provide wraps for women who come unprepared, but if you bring your own, especially one with bright colors, you'll get a smile from the monk or nun at the entrance.
Along the same line, men are required to wear trousers covering the knees. This too can be borrowed from the stock at the entrance but that clothing isn't washed after every user so it may cause a bad feeling to you wearing these skirts. One size fits all for man!