Tuesday, October 10
Visit Meteora to see the "Hanging Monasteries" perched on top of unusual rock formations. Drive through Kozani to Veria, then on to visit the tomb of Philip of Macedonia in Vergina. Continue via Edessa to Thessaloniki where you will see the Rotonda, Triumphal Arch of Galerius, and the seafront promenade with the White Tower. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Photos of our Day's Journey
METEORA, KALAMBAKA -- Monastic Rocks
Meteora is an area in Thessaly (Central Greece) and Kalampaka is the city under the rock towers of Meteora. Historians and geologists started to be interested in the creation of these rocks (Meteora) about 1000 years ago, expressing several theories.
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The thing that makes Meteora so special is the monasteries on the top of the rock towers.
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At the cavities, fissures and peaks of the Meteora rocks, people found protection from the raids of several conquerors, but also, several bold hermits found shelter at these rocks, seeking mental calmness, tranquility and prayer.
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Today, the tradition of Orthodoxy is continued uninterrupted for over 600 years by the Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoro (or the Transfiguration of Jesus), the Varlaam Monastery, the Saint Stephen Monastery, the Holy Trinity Monastery, the Saint Nicholas Anapafsas Monastery and the Rousanou Monastery. All these monasteries are on the top of Meteora rocks.