Meteora, Eastern Orthodox monastic complex on rock pillars near Kalabaka, Thessaly, Greece

The Meteora monasteries form a group of six Orthodox monastic complexes in central Greece, each built atop separate sandstone pillars that rise roughly 600 meters (1,970 feet) above the Thessalian plains. Each site contains multistory stone buildings with churches, cells, and courtyards connected by narrow staircases and bridges carved into the rock.

Hermit monks settled in the rock hollows and fissures from the 800s CE, worshipping in a chapel at the foot of the Dupiani rock. In 1334 Athanasios arrived from Mount Athos and founded the Metamorphosis monastery, later Megalo Meteoro, in 1344 with Gregorios and 14 monks; by the 14th century 24 monasteries stood under the patronage of rulers such as the Serbian king Symeon. Access was by rope ladders and windlass nets until stone stairs were cut in the 1920s.

Monks and nuns still live in the monasteries, following Orthodox monastic routines that visitors can witness during open hours. The communities maintain their prayer schedules and daily work, including icon painting, manuscript preservation, and tending small gardens built into the rock platforms.

Each monastery follows its own opening schedule, which varies by day of the week, so planning ahead helps if you want to visit more than one. Roads and footpaths connect the different sites, and visitors should wear clothing that covers legs fully since shorts or short skirts are not allowed inside.

The rock pillars took shape over millions of years through erosion of ancient river deposits, as wind and water removed softer material and left the harder stone standing. Monks used net hoists operated by ropes to haul supplies and occasionally people up to the monasteries, a practice that continued into the mid-20th century.