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When we left Meteora we drove to the North-western region
of Greece where Western Macedonia is located.
We saw many picturesque villages and pristine landscapes.
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Western Macedonia is a mountainous sparsely
populated region of Greece.
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Kastoria is a beautiful town known for its fur,
art and crafts industries.
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Meteora
(Greek: Μετεωρα) means “suspended in the air” is a complex of
six Orthodox Christian monasteries that are built on sandstone rock pillars, in
central Greece.
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In the 9th century, an ascetic group of hermit monks moved up to the ancient pinnacles some
of which are 1800 feet high and led a life of solitude.
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Until
the 17th century, the primary means of conveying goods and people was by means
of baskets and ropes. This great height,
combined with the sheerness of the cliff walls, kept away all but the most
determined visitors. Today access to the monasteries is via paved roads but still
demanding as visitors like my son John and Mark before had to walk up stairs with hundred of
steps. Meteora because of its physical
beauty, geological and ecclesiastical history makes a visit a memorable
experience for the fortunate few who visit this unique place.
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