Meteora
On the western edge of the plain of Thessaly, where Pinios River emerges
from the deep canyons of the Pindus range, one comes upon a unique
phenomenon of nature. 24 gigantic, perpendicular rocks, on which about
600 years ago Byzantine monks chose to worship God and built Meteora,
their monastic community. How the monasteries were built on the top
of these virtually inaccessible rocks is a subject of fascination
for pilgrims and visitors alike. These gray stalagmites etched by
time into a variety of shapes, rising towards the sky, appear as nature's
gift to the pious that have opted for solitude and a life of worship.
The monasteries, with their wooden galleries and cornice rooftops,
crown the summits of these formidable pinnacles. Precariously hanging
over the sinister abysses, with the Pindus range at their back and
the vast plain, woods, gorges and picturesque villages below, these
unworldly hermitages compose one of the most breathtaking sites on
earth. |
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Meteora
Meteora |
