A
rare geological phenomenon, a quirk of nature as it were, created
these looming rocks which thrust skywards from the plain of Thessaly,
as if striving to come closer to God. These peculiarly impressive
natural sculptures are known as Meteora because they do indeed seem
to hang or hover (meteoro in Greek) above the plain. Their summits,
totally isolated from the rest of the world, were a refuge for many
hermits from as early as the 11th century. Three hundred years later
the first monasteries were founded. Most of the monasteries were built
or renovated in the 16th century. Nowadays six are in use. In olden
days one reached the inaccessible peaks in a basket drawn up by the
monks operating a windlass. Today a good road leads from Kalambaka
to the monasteries with their wonderful wall paintings, ecclesiastical
treasures, rich libraries with precious manuscripts, and exquisite
icons. Also the movie "For Your Eyes Only' with JAMES BOND was
filmed there.
