Wonders and Secrets

Rising from the plains of Thessaly in central Greece, the enormous stone pillars of Meteora look like the remains of another world. Some soar hundreds of meters above the surrounding landscape. Their rounded cliffs, narrow ledges, caves, and almost vertical walls seem inhospitable to human life. Yet perched on the summits are centuries-old monasteries, built by monks who deliberately chose one of the most inaccessible places in Europe. From a distance, the buildings appear to float in the sky. The name Meteora comes from a Greek word meaning “suspended in the air” or “elevated.” It is an appropriate name for a place where monasteries cling to the edges of towering rocks and disappear into the clouds during misty weather. Meteora is one of the most extraordinary destinations in Greece. It is both a natural wonder and a sacred landscape, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its geological beauty, religious importance, architecture, and remarkable post-Byzantine art. However, Me...