City in the Sky: Meteora, Greece 🌟

🏞️ Meteora is a region in central Greece, renowned for its astonishing landforms and monasteries perched on cliffs. The term Meteora, meaning "suspended in the air" or "in the sky" in Greek, is incredibly fitting when you witness the breathtaking views of this place. 🗻 The topography of Meteora is the result of millions of years of weathering and erosion. The rock pillars here rise up to 600 meters, with peculiar shapes resembling massive stone towers that seem to have sprung from the ground. The flat tops of these towers provide an ideal location for constructing buildings. 🏰 On these stone towers, a series of Eastern Orthodox monasteries have been established, with six still in operation today. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries initially to escape Turkish invasions, monks used ropes and nets to transport construction materials and daily necessities to these nearly inaccessible rock pillars. 🛐 Each monastery has its own church, adorned with exquisite Byzantine-style frescoes and icons. These monasteries are not only places of worship but also significant repositories of Greek culture and art. 🏞️🌍 The beauty and uniqueness of Meteora led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. Both from a natural and a cultural perspective, Meteora is a place worth visiting. Here, you can experience a tranquil atmosphere, enjoy the spectacular natural scenery, and gain a deep understanding of the history and culture of Eastern Orthodoxy. 📸 #GreeceTravel #TravelDiary