Pyxari

Pyxari is a rock formation in the Meteora region near Kalabaka that rises to about 524 meters above sea level. The formation features numerous cave chambers carved at different heights into the structure and connected by narrow passages.

The area was settled by Christian monks from the 14th century onward, who built a monastery dedicated to Saint Anthony on the southern side of the rock. Only a small church from that medieval structure remains visible today.

The rock served as a refuge for Christian hermits who carved out spaces in the natural caves to live and pray. Traces of their presence remain visible in the hollowed chambers and small rooms built directly into the stone.

Access is by way of marked trails from Kalabaka, with parking available at the base of the formation. A decent level of fitness is needed since some paths are steep and uneven with significant elevation changes.

The so-called Cell of Constantius is a small chamber carved from the rock that shows how minimal the hermit dwellings were. This modest shelter gives visitors a direct sense of the austere life these early inhabitants led.