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Places to visit in Meteora
The best way to visit and Discover Meteora is to rent a scooter.
Holy Monastery of Agios Stefanos
The history of the first years of the monastery is lost in the depths of the centuries and covered by traditions. The first testimonies date back to its establishment at the end of the 12th century, around 1191-1192. Probably the first faithful hermit who dwelt in some rock cave was called Jeremiah. In the course of its history, the monastery received the high protection and help of nobles of Byzantium, the Transdanubian hegemonies and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In 1798, the present imposing catholicon was built in honor of Agios Charalambos. The frescoes of the temple, cleaned and preserved today, form an interesting group of post-Byzantine iconography. Today, 154 manuscripts from the 11th to the 19th century are kept in this monastery.
Holy Trinity Monastery
The top of the rock on which the monastery is located covers approximately six acres. There is no specific information about its founder. However, according to historical sources, it is estimated that it was built between 1458-1476. And here in the old years, the monks and pilgrims used to climb up with wind ladders and the traditional net. However, in 1925, when Nikandros Stathopoulos was abbot of the monastery, 140 steps were carved, which, through a narrow path at the base of the rock, lead to the monastery. Today there is also a cable car mainly for transporting products and materials. Inside the monastery there is a small Byzantine-style church with a low dome and it consists of the sanctuary, the main church and the narthex. There are few windows, so the temple is relatively dark.
Barlaam Holy Monastery
About 146 steep steps need to be climbed to reach this historic monastery. In 1350, a bold ascetic figure, Varlaam, climbed the rock, after whom the monastery was named. He built three temples, a small cell and a tank for water. In the period 1517-1518, the two founders of the monastery, the hieromonk brothers Theofanis and Nektarios, the Apsarades, ascended. The Holy Monastery of Barlaam has a rich painting decoration that refers to the Theban painter Franko Catellano, a remarkable collection of manuscripts, which are close to 300, while it is of special architectural interest. According to the officials of the monastery, the transportation of materials lasted 22 years, while the building took only 20 days. Also noteworthy is the 16th century barrel, which has a capacity of 12,000 liters. Its water was drinkable and was also used for agricultural and construction work.
Holy Monastery of Transfiguration of the Savior or Great Meteoro
The monastery, which is on a very large rock, is the oldest, the largest and, as everyone claims, the most important of the monasteries of Meteora that have survived to this day. It was founded shortly before the middle of the 14th century. by a learned and saintly monk, the holy Athanasios the Meteorite. His successor and second founder of the monastery, the monk Saint Ioasaf, former king John Uresis Palaiologos, was also an important figure. In the approximately forty years of his monastic life, the holy Joasaph created cells, a hospital, a cistern, renovated the temple of the Transfiguration and was among the founders of the monastery of Ypsilotera (the Calligraphers), which is built on a steep and inaccessible rock opposite the Great Meteoron . Also, it is estimated that in 1544-1545 the current majestic main church was built and a little later the bank, the kitchen, the hospital - nursing home, the tower, small chapels and stairs going up from the tower. In addition, the monastery's library is one of the richest and most valuable monastic libraries, since, despite the adverse historical circumstances, the monks have preserved and rescued to this day priceless treasures, e.g. manuscript codices, documents and rare writings.
Holy Monastery of Rousanos
The monastery covers the entire plateau of the top of the rock, as a result of which it appears as its natural end, while its current building form was taken in the third decade of the 16th century. the monastery consists of a three-story complex, with the catholicon and cells on the ground floor, as well as reception rooms, the mansion, the exhibition and. In the information note of the monastery it is stated that the name of the monastery was given by the first inhabitant of the rock or the builder of the first church in the 13th or 14th century. What is certain is that between the years 1527 and 1529, two brothers from Giannio, Ioasaf and Maximos, received permission to settle and live as monks on the rock of Rousanos. When they got up there, they found nothing but ruins and ruins. That is why they developed a special construction activity. In 1530, they built the catholicon on the site of the ruined church of the Transfiguration of the Savior and renovated the monastery.
Holy Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Anapavsa
It is the first monastery we meet on the way to Meteora. The rock on which the monastery was built is very small, as a result it is formed in successive layers and the monastery consists of three floors. In all probability the name of the monastery is due to its location, because it is considered to offer physical and spiritual rest, peace and rest. The monastery's catholicon was painted in 1527 by the famous Cretan painter Theofani Strelitza, who was probably a monk at the time. Under every icon painting he made he put the monogram of I.M.. The painting of the icon of the catholicon of the monastery of Agios Nikolaos of the Rest is the oldest known work of this great artist of the Cretan school on the first floor of the monastery there is the very small chapel of Agios Antonios, which is of particular importance because it preserves the remains of old frescoes from the 14th century. There is also the crypt, where in the past the codices and relics of the monastery were kept.
