Meteora

Here are 3 views of the rock formations above the town of Kalabaka on top of which are 24 monasteries were built. Only 6 remain. (See additional posts.) They are on top of high and steep cliffs as much as 550 meters above the town.
Caves in the cliffs were occupied as far back as 50,000 BCE, but it isn't until the 9th century CE that there is any record of monks taking up residence. The monasteries were not started until the 14th century when monks needed protection from Turkish invaders.
I'll visit 4 monasteries: St. Nikolaos and Roussanou today in the rain and clouds; Meteoron and Holy Trinity tomorrow in the sunshine.Okumaya devam et