METEORA (Greece): the monasteries hanging from the sky

The Meteora monasteries are in Thessaly, the north-west region of Greece. The name means “monasteries in the sky”, situated as they are on the edge of dizzy precipices, on the top of rocks which go up to the sky from the dry plain crossed by the Peneo river. To make them inaccessible the monks had to use a series of ladders or they had to be heaved by rudimental goods-lifts.
The first ascetics settled here at the beginning of the XI century, but the gold age of these incredible monasteries destined to the meditation of the monks was between the XV and XVI century, when they was enriched by frescos and icons painted by important artists. In that period in the Meteora area grown up 24 monasteries. Nowadays it is possible to visit just 6 monasteries and 2 more are under restoration.

To know more:
www.great-adventures.com/destinations/greece/meteora.html
www.meteorakalambaka.com/meteora.html

Reportage: 72 photos on CD-Rom