Meteora Monasteries

We visited the Meteora Monasteries during our cruise in Greece a month ago . From the dock in Volos we travelled by bus passing through agricultural lands, villages, and towns and up the mountains with giant rocks.

Hundred of years ago ( 11th century) hermits climbed these massifs to live inside the cracks and caves to spend their lives in contemplation. I tried to imagine the hermits braved the climb during all weathers, living inside the very narrow space inside the rocks,and how they spent the days and nights.

It was told that the local villagers helped the hermits bringing them food and other material by using ladders to transport things.The old ladders can still be seen on the side of the mountains.

Later, in the 16th century, monks started to erect these monasteries. The 500 steps to reach one monastery was worth the effort. And certainly, the view.