Greece

Meteora

Meteora

Welcome to Greece! Meteora is a breathtaking place where ancient monasteries sit perched high atop towering stone pillars, almost like they are floating in the sky.

Why is it famous?

Meteora means "suspended in the air" in Greek, and it's easy to see why.

Monks built monasteries on top of these giant rock towers over 600 years ago, and six are still used today.

How was it formed?

Millions of years ago, a river and earthquakes slowly carved these tall sandstone pillars out of solid rock.

Wind and rain kept sculpting them into the smooth, rounded towers you see today.

Amazing facts

Some of these rock towers rise over 1,300 feet straight up into the sky.

Monks used to be pulled up in nets and baskets on ropes before staircases were carved into the rock.

Quick facts

  • Some of these rock towers rise over 1,300 feet straight up into the sky.
  • Monks used to be pulled up in nets and baskets on ropes before staircases were carved into the rock.
  • There were once 24 monasteries here, but only 6 remain active.
  • Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both its nature and its history.