World Heritage Photos

Monasteries of Meteora: The Meteora region is situated in northern Greece, about 352 km from Athens. Meteora is surrounded by imposing sandstone rock formations. The rocks rise over 400 metres above the Peneas Valley. In the 14th century, Greece was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, many monks found a refuge on the top of the rocks of Meteora. Several monasteries were built on top of the rocks in the 14th and 15th centuries. The monasteries of Meteora were built under impossible conditions. The early monasteries were only reached by climbing and via removable rope ladders. Now, from the 24 monasteries only six remain active. Megalo Meteoro Monastery was built upon the highest rock. Megalo Meteoro is the largest monastery in the Meteora area. The Varlaam Monastery was built in 1541-1542. The Varlaam Monastery houses an important collection of ecclesiastical treasuries and Byzantine frescoes. The Roussanou Monastery was founded in 1545. The church of the Roussanou Monastery is adorned with religious icons and Byzantine frescoes. The Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) was founded in 15th century, this monastery was used as a location for the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. The other active monasteries are the Agios Stefanos and the Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas. The uninhabited Ypapanti Monastery is the only monastery that was constructed inside the cavity of a rock. Meteora gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1988. Meteora is a mixed cultural and natural World Heritage.

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   The Meteora region is situated near the town of Kalambaka and the village of Kastraki in Greece. Kalambaka and Kastraki are surrounded by the stunning sandstone rock formations of Meteora. Over centuries, the unique rock formations of Meteora have been shaped by erosion. The huge pillar rocks rise over 400 metres above the Peneas Valley. In the 14th and 15th centuries, 24 monasteries were built on top of the rocks. Meteora became a UNESCO World Heritage in 1988.

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   Meteora: The Megalo Meteoro Monastery was built upon the highest rock in the Meteora area, the monastery is situated 415 metres above the bottom of the Peneas Valley. Megalo Meteoro is the largest and oldest monastery in the Meteora area, the monastery was founded in 1356. First a small church was built in 1350 that later expanded into a monastery. Megalo Meteoro became the most powerful of all the monasteries in Meteora thanks to royal donations.

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   Long wraparound skirts in the Megalo Meteoro Monastery of Meteora. Appropriate clothing is required to visit the Eastern Orthodox monasteries of Meteora, women must wear skirts below their knees and men must wear long pants, sleeveless clothes and shorts are also prohibited. In some of the monasteries of Meteora wraparound skirts and shawls are available on loan. Inside the monasteries, photography is either restricted or prohibited

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   Meteora: Inside the tower of the Megalo Meteoro Monastery, the tower contains a windlass and rope basket, used to transport monks, supplies, building material and even pilgrims and visitors, it was used until the 1960s. Nowadays, the system is only used to supply the monastery, monks and visitors can use the stairway. The stone staircase leading up the Megalo Meteoro Monastery has about 300 steps. 

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   Meteora: The tower and basket of the Megalo Meteoro Monastery, monks lift supplies up to the monastery. In the 16th century, there were 24 monasteries. Four of the remaining monasteries are inhabited by monks, the other two monasteries are inhabited by nuns. The monasteries are now tourist attractions. In Greece, the monasteries of Meteora are the most important Eastern Orthodox monasteries after the monasteries on Mount Athos.

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   Meteora Monasteries: The storerooms of the Megalo Meteoro Monastery are filled with bottles wrapped in wicker baskets and big wine barrels. One of the storerooms houses an ancient wine press. Meteora is a mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site, both cultural and natural. Meteora was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. Meteora is situated in Thessaly region in the heart of Greece, about 352 km from Athens.

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   The ossuary inside the Megalo Meteoro Monastery in the Meteora area. The ossuary houses the bones of deceased monks. A deceased monk was buried for a number of years, then the grave was opened, the skull and bones were exhumed and transferred from the grave to the ossuary, this is a common form of burial practice in many monasteries. Megalo Meteoro was founded by Saint Athanasius the Meteorite, a 14th century Christian scholar monk from Mount Athos. 

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   Meteora: The Katholikon is the main church of the Megalo Meteoro Monastery, the Katholikon was built in the 14th century and dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ. The church houses a number of icons of great importance. Several parts of the monastery were carved out of the rock. The Megalo Meteoro Monastery houses a museum, dedicated to religious art. The Megalo Meteoro monastery is also known as the Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron.

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   Meteora: A fresco on the outer wall of the church of the Megalo Meteoro Monastery. The church houses several remarkable icons. All monasteries of Meteora are embellished with frescoes and icons. Each of the monasteries in the Meteora region has its own museum, mostly dedicated to religious art and sacred objects. It is not allowed to take any photos inside the beautiful adorned monastery churches of Meteora.

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    Meteora: A tiny chapel nearby the entrance to the Megalo Meteoro Monastery. The chapel was carved out of the rock. The Megalo Meteoro Monastery stands on the highest rock of Meteora. Several parts of the Megalo Meteoro Monastery were also carved out of the rock. Today, there are six active monasteries in Meteora. The other monasteries are dilapidated. The remaining monasteries are now tourist attractions.

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    The Holy Varlaam Monastery is situated high upon a rock in Meteora, the monastery was built in 1541-1542 and decorated in 1548-1566. The monastery can be reached by a narrow bridge and steep staircase. The Varlaam Monastery is the second largest monastery in Meteora. The former refectory now houses a museum, dedicated to monastic life and icons, among others. Today, of the original 24 monasteries of Meteora, only six are still inhabited and active.

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    Meteora: The domes of the Katholikon of the Varlaam Monastery. The Katholikon is the central church of the monastery, it is decorated with Byzantine frescoes. The monastery was built high upon the rocks in 1542. The Varlaam Monastery is situated 373 metres above the bottom of the valley. There is even a small garden on the monastery grounds. The monastery is still occupied by a monks. The monastery was named after the hermit Varlaam who once lived on the rock. 

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    The Varlaam Monastery in Meteora, this huge wooden barrel can hold 12 tons of rainwater. The early monasteries in Meteora were only reached by climbing or via rope ladders, they were built under impossible conditions. The Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) Monastery was built in 15th century. In 1981, this monastery was used as a film location for the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. The monastery is known for its impressive location on top of a narrow rock.

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    Meteora: The tower of the Varlaam Monastery contains the windlass. In the past, a huge basket was used for bringing up monks and supplies. The windlass and basket were used for centuries by the monks of Meteora. Now, it is only used to transport supplies. Since the 1960s, monks and visitors can use the staircase. Before the 1960s, even tourists were being carried up in a basket. From a distance, visitors are able to watch the monks hoist goods up to the monastery.

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    Meteora: Two Greek Orthodox monks are busy with hoisting work in the tower of the Varlaam Monastery. The tower of the monastery contains a windlass and a rope basket, that dates from 1536. The basket was used to transport monks, supplies and even visitors. It was used until the 1960s. Nowadays, it is only used to transport supplies, monks and visitors can use the staircase. The hoisting work is now a continuation of a centuries-old tradition.

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    Meteora: The Holy Monastery of Roussanou perched on its rock in the Meteora region, it is the most spectacular situated monastery of Meteora. The monastery was founded around 1545 and was only reachable by a rope ladder. A wooden bridge was built in 1868. Now, the monastery is reachable by this small bridge from another sandstone peak. Meteora is a protected natural and cultural landscape, an area of ​​forests, ravines, rocks and the presence of the monasteries.

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    Meteora viewed from the Holy Monastery of Roussanou. The monastery is towering high above the small Greek towns of Kalambaka and Kastraki. The monastery was damaged and plundered by Germans troops during World War II. The monastory was carefully restored and is since 1988 occupied by a small community of nuns. The church is embellished with Byzantine frescoes and icons. The monastery is dedicated to Agia Varvara, Saint Barbara.

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    The Monasteries of Meteora perched on the rocks. In the 14th century, Greece was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, many monks found a refuge on top of the rocks of Meteora. Once there were 24 monasteries, now, only six remain. In Greek the name Meteora means 'suspended in the air' or 'in the heavens above'. Meteora, with its towering sandstone rock formations and the Early-Greek-Orthodox monasteries, is an impressive monument.