With 170 towers rising eerily above the Thessalian plain, with six organized monasteries-museums that form the second largest monastic community in Greece after that of Mount Athos, with countless hermitages in caves, with a long history that begins with the ascetics of the 11th century that climbed the cobbled rock without belays, Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a destination you must visit at least once in your life, especially during the Easter days.
1. For the overcrowding in the monasteries The sanctity of the place is indisputable, most visitors come from all over the world for religious tourism. In addition to the scheduled visits to the six active monasteries – Megalo Meteoro, Varlaam, Agios Stefanos, Rousanos, Agia Triada and Anapavsa – to get to know the monastic life and the precious treasures housed within them, the services during the Easter days they have extra delight due to the shocking landscape but also the monastic life that imposes austerity. Epitaph tours and resurrection services are most popular in the two largest monasteries – Megalo Meteoro and Barlaam – while in the rest the sparse crowds enhance the experience. Don’t miss on Maundy Thursday the sequence of the Last Supper and Passions at the Varlaam Monastery.
2. For special cycling Cycling is gaining ground in the Meteora area and is an enjoyable way to get to know the area. Pleasant morning rides with e-bikes to the monasteries, to viewpoints or at sunset to see the otherworldly landscape in the colors of the west, but also e-mountain bike excursions on the paths between the rocks, to hermitages and abandoned monasteries or combined with a visit to local winery. For those who prefer it, multi-day tours are also organized in the rest of Thessaly.
3. For climbing and hiking Before the heat hits and Meteora becomes a no-go for sports, enjoy rock climbing or hiking – both are the best way to connect with this place. There are an estimated 870 climbing routes, which are mostly for experienced climbers due to sparse insurance. At the Paradisos tavern (tel. 24320-22723) in Kastraki, which is a hangout for climbers, you will also find Vangelis Batsios’ climbing guides and all the information you need. As for walking, just get a good map. The old paths that connected the monasteries and the hermitages still exist and move in the hollows, between the rocks, crossing dense vegetation. An easy and beautiful route is the one that takes you from Kastraki up to the rock of the Holy Spirit, but also the one that leads to the “square” between the rocks of Pixari, Batova and Ambaria and up to the monastery of Agios Nikolaos Batova. The larger one that starts from the Anapaussa Monastery and reaches the Megalo Meteoro.
4. For truffle hunting The Natural History Museum of Meteora – Mushroom Museum organizes a special excursion for hunting truffles in nature. On the days of Easter, the activity is scheduled for 4/5 and 6/5. With specially trained truffle dogs, the collection and the information are done, which is completed with a taste test of mushrooms and outdoor cooking of truffle pasta. On returning to the museum, don’t miss a guided tour of its fine collections. (meteoramuseum.gr)
5. For Saint George of Mantila On the feast of St. George, on Easter Monday, local residents and visitors flock under Stylos rock, on the outskirts of Kastraki. There is the Saint’s hermitage where local climbers climb on the spot in order to place the handkerchiefs-tamatas of the faithful and take down those of the previous year, distributing them to the world as a talisman. The sight is more than impressive.
Source Kathimerini
