Best Meteora Tours from Athens

Near the end of the 14th century, encroaching Turkish raiders compelled Greek hermit monks living on the fertlie plain of Thessaly to seek refuge in the nearby limestone rocks, on top of which were built more than 20 monasteries. Six of the original monasteries remain today. Only four of these - Aghios Stephanos, Aghia Trias, Varlaam and Meteoron - still house religious communities. Of special note is Varlaam Monastery, which, in addition to its highly-prized reliquary, is also famous for the frescos done by Byzantine iconographer Frangos Katelanos. Show All