Holy Monastery of Rousanos - Saint Barbara — Attraction in Meteora Municipality

The Holy Monastery of Rousanos, also known as Saint Barbara, is one of the notable monasteries in the Meteora complex in Greece. Perched on a high rock, it offers breathtaking views and a unique monastic experience.

Ratings and Reviews:

Tripadvisor: The monastery has received high praise, often rated around 4.5 to 5 stars. Visitors commend its serene atmosphere, stunning architecture, and the impressive frescoes inside. It is noted for being less crowded compared to other Meteora monasteries, providing a more peaceful visit.

Cultural and Historical Significance: Founded in the 16th century, the monastery is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus and honors Saint Barbara. It features beautiful wall paintings from the Cretan School, crafted in 1560, adding to its artistic and historical value​ (Visit Meteora)​​ (Wikipedia)​.

Visitor Experience: The monastery is accessible by stairs, with approximately 140 steps. While this might be challenging for some, the panoramic views and the spiritual ambiance make the climb worthwhile. It is recommended to dress modestly, as with other monasteries in Meteora, to respect the religious customs​ (Visit Meteora)​​ (Wikipedia)​.

Unique Features: The monastery’s location allows for a different perspective of the Meteora cliffs and adjacent monasteries. There are also nearby pathways leading to off-the-road panoramic viewpoints, perfect for photography and quiet contemplation​ (Wikipedia)​.

Overall, the Holy Monastery of Rousanos is praised for its tranquility, historic art, and the unique experience it offers among the Meteora monasteries. For more detailed reviews and visitor tips, you can check Tripadvisor and...

It was the third monastery in our itinerary (together with the 1st - Great Meteoro and the 2nd - Varlaam).

If you have an opportunity to rent and drive a car for this tour (the most perfect option to visit this holy Orthodox area) plan your visit starting from the farthest place early in the morning - Great Meteoro (apart its opening) and then through Varrlam to approach to this female monastery as final destination before you start your way back to the hotel. Thereby you'll avoid any overcrowdedness on your way and have good chances to park your car without any problems. Besides, you'll visit as many monasteries as you wish (for us, the number of three was enough when this tour was planned) and under an optimal temperature regime since when the majority of bus tourists arrive there is already too hot there and the sun is high. When, for example, we patiently visited and examined already all three monasteries and we ready to start our way back; it was some about 11.15 a.m. and group buses just began to appear close to the monasteries packing too tight the space around them.

To access the monastery follow the path from that upside road and you'll go through nice shady forest. Entrance tickets have the same prices as in all other monasteries. Very interesting and genuine frescoes are at place in this well-kept monastery; but they require some restorative attention. Views from there are impressive as everywhere at Meteora :). There is also a tiny souvenir shop and flowers everywhere to remind you that it's a female monastery,...

Such a beautiful monastery! It is small but really pretty, and the view from the top is amazing! There are quite some stairs to go up, but it is ok with a few stops.

Parking: there are a couple of spots available for parking, but you need to make sure to come either very early, or a bit later (outside of the rush hour) to find a spot. Otherwise, just park wherever you can and then walk.

As the rest of the monasteries, women need to wear long skirts and cover their shoulders, and men need to wear long pants. If you don't have appropriate wear, you can buy one use pants in the entry for men, or a cover up for women.

The entry fee for tourists is 3 euros. As a Greek person though, you have free entrance, which was a nice surprise. There is a small souvenir shop inside the monastery where you can buy several handmade items from the nuns,...