Meteora, the forest of stones

A trip to the stone forest of Meteora. You’ll be amazed by the impressive magnificence of this giant stone complex.

Meteora is, after Mount Athos, the largest monastery complex in Greece and with continuous presence from the period they were populated by the first hermits until nowadays. From historical evidence we understand that the number of monasteries were thirty in total but only six of them are in use today. In 1989, U.N.E.S.C.O. characterized Holy Meteora“as a monument of Humanity that has to be maintained”.

We are going to visit the Monastery of Great Meteoro which was founded by Saint Athanasios Meteorites, in the 14th century and is dedicated to Virgin Mary. Then we are going to visit the Holy Monastery of Roussano (built in 14^th-15^th century) which is a female Monastery and it is devoted to the Transfiguration of Jesus. Our next visits will be the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity (1362-1475) and the Holy Monastery of Varlaam (built in the 16^th century) which is in the honour of All Saints and of the Three Hierarchs. After that we are going to visit the Holy Monastery of Saint Nicolas Anapafsas (built in the 14^th century) and the Holy Monastery of Saint Stephen which was built in the 12^th century and it is now a female Monastery.

In the shadows of the imposing rocks of Meteora it is built the picturesque town of Kalampaka. There we are going to enjoy a traditional Greek meal. Not far away it is located the Cave of Theopetra which was populated from the Middle Paleolithic Period (that begins about 130,000 years ago) to the end of the Neolithic Period (3000 BC). Among other things, inside the cave there were found stone tools of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic Age, pottery finds, bone tools and shell jewelry of the Neolithic Age, a gold jewelry of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic Age which is unique for the Greek and the famous human footprints of Theopetrathat are dated back about 130,000 years and are a rare finding not only for Greece but also for Europe.

On our way back we are going to pass by the area of Thermopyles. Its name, has been given by Hercules because of the hot springs and the other inaccessible narrow streets existed in the area. In 480 BC at the Strait of Thermopylae a small number of Greek forces consisting of 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians, led by Spartan King Leonidas,faced numerous Persian forces under the command of King Xerxes’. Xerxes sent ambassadors to convince Leonidas to lay down its arms. The answer from Leonidas was “Molonlabe” (Come and get it!). Opposite the modern monument of Leonidas, stands the historical hill of Kolonos where the final phase of the battle took place. According to Herodotus there were buried the deceased of the battle, a battle which is one of the largest battles in the world history.

Our trip came to its end and your personal driver will take you back to your hotel or cruise ship.