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Photo: Chousainov Iskander, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery of Meteora. A monk named Varlaam who scaled the rocks in 1350 and began construction on the monasteries. Varlaam built three churches by hoisting materials up the face of the cliffs. The museum is open to travelers and contains a wide array of relics and ecclesiastical treasures.
The Monastery of Saint Varlaam is a Greek Orthodox monastery in central Greece, situated in the Pineios Valley northeast of the town of Kalambaka. It is located at the top of a rocky precipice that is 373 metres (1,224 ft) above the valley floor. Founded in 1517, it is one of twenty-four monasteries which were originally built at Meteora. Collectively titled Meteora, in 1988 the extant six monasteries were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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Μεγάλο Μετέωρο
The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron is the oldest and largest of the monasteries of Meteora. The monastery is believed to have been built just before the mid-14th century by a monk from Mount Athos named Saint Athanasios the Meteorite.
Αγία Βαρβάρα Ρουσσάνου
The main cathedral, celebrating the memory of Santa Barbara, was founded at the end of the 16th century and was decorated 30 years later.
Άγιος Νικόλαος Αναπαυσάς
The Holy Monastery of Saint Nikolas of Anapafsas was founded at the end of the 14th century. It is the smallest monastery in Meteora.
Αγία Τριάδα
The Monastery of Holy Trinity is the most difficult to reach, but once you get to the very top, the panoramic view of the surroundings is simply captivating!
The Church of the Koimisis tis Theotokou is Kalambaka’s historic cathedral, dating largely to the 14th century but built on the site of a much earlier early Christian basilica. Inside, rare features include a large stone ambo, early architectural fragments and layers of frescoes spanning several centuries. It makes a rewarding stop alongside the monasteries of Meteora.
Άγιος Στέφανος
This is the most accessible monastery, where instead of steps you simply cross a small bridge to reach the entrance.