Meteora, the most important monument of the Prefecture of Trikala, is protected by UNESCO and is the second most valuable monastic center (after Mount Athos) in Greece. These weird and bulky geological formations were first inhabited in the 11th century by hermit monks, who later formed the hermitage of Doupiani. In the 14th century Saint Athanasios Meteorites organized the first monastic community on the Great Meteoro. In the next six centuries 24 monasteries were founded on the steep Meteora rocks. Six of them are fully functional till nowadays:
- Monastery of Great Meteora
- Monastery of Varlaam
- Monastery of Agia Triada (Trinity)
- Monastery of St. Stephen
- Monastery of Rousanou
- Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas
Every day, thousands of visitors from all over the world come here for meditation and prayer and the opportunity to experience the life of the monks, to admire the landscape, the artistic architecture and iconography, to study the relics and the treasures of the Byzantine culture.
Meteora is also world famous for its endless climbing routes and their perfectly organized infrastructure.
