Meteora (ad literam “middle of the sky”, “suspended in the air” or “high in the sky”) is one of the largest complexes of Orthodox monasteries in Greece, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.
As a natural phenomenon, the rocks of Meteora are unique in the world. They are not volcanic plugs of igneous rocks typical of other areas, but, on the contrary, they are composed of a conglomerate of hard rocks, their zonal limitation being not only unusual but even geologically inexplicable.
It is assumed that the caves in the vicinity of Meteora have been inhabited since ancient times, being identified several Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts of human occupation. However, Meteora is not mentioned in ancient Greek literature, the first documented people to live here being a group of hermit monks who, in the ninth century AD, lived in the cracks of the rocks.
The famous monasteries on the rocks were built much later, respectively in the fourteenth century, when the monks sought to hide from the numerous Ottoman attacks. For this reason, access to the top was via detachable stairs. Today, access is facilitated by the steps dug into the rock in the 1920s. Out of the 24 monasteries, only six still operate, each being inhabited by less than ten people.
Camping Vrachos from Kastraki meets the proximity requirements – here is a camping review that you may find useful.
