"Snowy Visit in 'Columns of the sky' " a Meteora Travel Page by FruitLover

In 24-25th January 2006 I was the only one tourist in the very popular magical site of Meteora- Kalambaka- Kastraki.
Those were the views through my windows when I woke up at morning:Click here

Went by foot from town of Kalambaka to small picturesque village of Kastraki, followed an uphill snow covered road in order to reach a few of the summits of the amazing multi-coloured rocks dominating the whole site.

The magic of the journey from Kastraki to the monasteries is sheer enjoyment. It takes about two hours and transports you into a land of dreams.

The falling snow and the white carpets around purify the air and the atmosphere. It was only me and God, and.... a cute dog joined me voluntarily. I'm not a religious person, but here you feel God and Holiness in your bones. If Jerusalem is God's residence, and Kerala is 'God's own country' - Meteora is, probably, the headquarters, or a main branch at least....

=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-

"In a region of almost inaccessible sandstone peaks, monks settled on these 'columns of the sky' from the 11th century onwards. Twenty-four of these monasteries were built, despite incredible difficulties, at the time of the great revival of the eremetic ideal in the 15th century. Their 16th-century frescoes mark a key stage in the development of post-Byzantine painting.
ALTITUDE Mean altitude is 300m, rising to a maximum of 1,000m.
PHYSICAL FEATURES The monasteries are built on rock pinnacles of deltaic origin, called 'Meteora', rising over 400m above the Thessalian plain. Chemical analysis and work by the German geologist Philipson, supported by the Greek geologist Papadakis, suggests that the pinnacles were created some 60 million years ago in the Tertiary period, emerging from the cone of a river and further transformed by earthquakes. The pillars are of brown sandstone.
CLIMATE The mountain range to the east and north of the site experiences a wide climatic variation from baking heat in summer to severe cold in winter with heavy snowfalls. Summer is the driest time, storms occurring all year round especially at higher altitudes.
VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES The monasteries are open daily for both secular and religious purposes. There were 400,000 visitors to Meteora in 1992. Most of these came between May-September and this creates problems of overcrowding.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES The site is of geological interest with reference being made to it by ancient Greek writers such as Herodotous and Strabo, as well as modern observers such as Pouqueville, Leake, Giannopoulos, Ussing and Philipson.
CONSERVATION VALUE Monks settled in this inaccessible region of sandstone peaks from the 11th century. The 16th century frescoes found in this group of 24 monasteries, are a fundamental stage in the development of post-Byzantine painting.
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT Since 1972 the monasteries have been restored and conservation work is carried out annually by specialists, including archaeologists, restorers, craftsmen and labourers. A variety of methods are used in the conservation work, including chemical analysis of colours and concrete injection. The monasteries lie in an area within which different types of building work is prohibited or limited."

-UNESCO World Heritage List
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/455

=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-=-=-#=-