Kalambaka is 21 km from Tricalla. The town is small, about 12 thousand people live here. From Athens to the town about 4 hours drive, and from thessalonikov 2 hours. If you decide to go there, then you will definitely visit Monasteries in Meteorakh (Meteora).
This is one of the largest monasteries in the country and a perfect miracle. Ancient buildings are located on the tops of the rocks in the mountains of Khasia (about 600 meters above sea level), next to the Pinios River, a pair of kilometers from Kalambaki. In the complex six acting monasteries. Saint Nikolai Monasteries (Ayiiou Nikolaou Anapavsa), Varlaam (Varlaam) and Great Meteor (Great Meteoron) It is worth a visit to the hour of day when monasteries are closed for visitors. After lunch, go to the monastery Saint Rusana (Roussanou), Holy Trinity (Ayias Triadhos) and St. Stephen (Ayiou Stefanou).
Church of the Holy Trinity - The pearl of the complex, which consists of a chapel, a balcony castle, the altar and the Kieli of the monks.
Women's monastery Rusana (built in honor of Saint Barbara), in general, was originally built as a male in 1388.
Soon the monastery completely dilapidated, and in the mid-16th century, a new monastery building was built on the ruins of the temple, which can be seen today. A four-story building is located on a large platform, and inside the pictures of the post-Byzantine era, created by artists of the Cretan school, can be admired. The most luxurious frescoes are "suffering saints" and "the modernity of the throne."
Monastery Vlaraama It was built in 1350 by the efforts of the monk Varlaam, who lived in this complex until the end of his life, and after his death, the rock was uninhabited for a couple of centuries.
The complex has three churches and cells. Monk Capacity for water, and lived all his life alone on this rock. And in 1518, the monks of Feofan's brothers and nectarians took up the restoration of the church of the three saint in this complex. Perfectly coping with a difficult task, the brothers remained to live there, and gradually other monks began to come to the temple. Thus, by the middle of the XVI century, 30 people lived in the complex. The main church of the complex, the church of all saints, was built in 1542, but in the 17th century the building began to wind, and no one was engaged in the building until 1961 - then the new fraternity settled on its territory.
To get to Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapaavsasas , You need to rise at 143 stages of the mountain, and then another 85 steps in the rock itself.
Scientists assume that the temple was built in the 13th century by the monk by Nikanor. The monastery complex is not very large, and all the buildings are located at different heights, and something like a labyrinth is obtained. At the first level there is a chapel of St. Anthony - completely tiny - only one person can fit inside. At the second level, you can see the church of St. Nicholas of the 16th century with rich frescoes. At the third level, there are Celi, the old meerating and small church of St. John the Forerunner.
Female Orthodox Monastery of St. Stephen It was built in the 14th century, and in the 16th century the temple was renovated and declared independent. Two centuries later, a new cathedral was erected in the complex in honor of St. Haralampia, another patron of the monastery.
At the beginning of the last century, the church was in a dilapidated state, and even exposed to desecration and was abandoned until 1961. Today 20 nuns live in this temple. The inner decoration of the old cathedral is impressive with its frescoes and paintings. But in the new temple it is unlikely to be able to get away - it is closed for tourists. In addition to these two temples of the complex in the territory, Celi, the hearth, a stable and an ancient altar and a museum-rister, where you can see beautiful manuscripts, ritual dishes, ancient Icons of Emmanuel Tsanan, tree thread samples. Before St. Stephen, just get to the Temple leads a modern access road, and there is still a stone bridge.
Male Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord or the Great Meteor - The largest monastery complex (territory of about 6 hectares), the name of which is translated as "a great place hanging in the air."
Meteor was erected in 1340. The main cathedral of the monastery (Kafolikon), the Preobrazhensky Cathedral, erected in 1388. This is a cross-shaped temple with a twelve dome, 24 meters in height and 32 in length. The attack (the extension of the temple) relies on four columns that are covered with frescoes on religious themes (plots with scenes of the torment of saints). Also, the frescoes are covered with a ceiling of this building, as well as there are burials of the founders of the monastery-lot-like Athanasius and Joasaph. Next to the burials you can see their images (they keep the monastery in their hands). Joasaf, by the way, before the post, was the Serbian king and his contribution to the construction and prosperity of the temple invaluable. The Great Meteor performs the function of managing all monasteries on this territory.
The cliffs opens a wonderful view of the surroundings and rocks. By the way, the cliffs have formed more than 60 million years ago, and it is also amazing. Keep in mind that you need to dress in the monasteries submerged shoulders, long pants or skirts.