Pyxari, Rock formation in Meteora, Greece

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.

The hermitages and the surviving church of the Monastery of St. Anthony sit on the south and northeast sides of the rock, so approach from those directions rather than the summit. Paths are steep and uneven; wear sturdy shoes and carry water, as shade is limited on the rock faces.

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.