Took the train from Thessaloniki south to the province of Thessaly and the town of Kalambaka, located just below the famous Meteora monasteries.
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| View from my hotel in Kalambaka (click on photos for enlargements) |
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| View from the town square of Kalambaka |
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| View from Kalambaka |
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| View from Kalambaka |
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| View from Kalambaka |
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| View from Kalambaka |
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| The 16th century Monastery of St. Stephen, in the middle of the photo, from Kalambaka. It is now a nunnery. |
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| Monastery of St. Stephen |
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| Kalambaka from the Monastery of St. Stephen |
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| Four of the six now active Meteora monasteries can be seen in this photo. |
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| Three of the monasteries |
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| Two of the monasteries |
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| Varlaam Monasteries, founded in 1541 |
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| Varlaam Monastey |
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| Another view of Varlaam Monastery |
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| Another view of Varlaam Monastery |
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| Another view of Varlaam Monastery |
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| Grand Meteora Monastery, founded in mid-fourteen century |
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| Remains of Grand Meteora Monks |
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| Remains of Grand Meteora Monks |
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| Monastery of Rousanou, also known as the Monastery of St. Barbara, founded in the sixteenth century. Now a nunnery. |
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| Monastery of St. Barbara |
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Monastery of St. Barbara
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| On the pinnacle to the left is the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, founded in1475 |
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| Monastery of the Holy Trinity |
If this monastery looks familiar, it is because a
Famous Scene in the
James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” was filmed here. Locals claim that
Meteora’s reputation as internationally famous tourist attraction was
spawned by its appearance in the 007 flick. Reportedly the current TV
program “Game of Thrones” wanted to film here in Meteora but the monks,
after witnessing the hubbub surrounding the Bond movie, refused to give
permission. I have been told by locals, however, that some digitized
images of Meteora were used as backgrounds in “Game of Thrones” (I do not know for
sure because I myself have not seen the show).
