Meteora is a complex of dark sandstone rocks that rise outside Kalampaka in Thessaly, near the first hills of Pindos and Hassia. The monasteries of Meteora, which are built on the tops of some of the rocks, are today the second most important monastic complex in Greece, after Mount Athos. [1] Of the thirty that have existed historically, only six are in operation today, which, since 1988, have been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
a Meteora is a protected habitat of the Natura 2000 network with code GR1440003. [4] The landscape includes forested hills with impressively steep cliffs, the riparian valley of the rivers Litheos and Mourgas, deciduous forests, plane and oak forests, shrubs and arable land. [5] [6] [7] The important flora includes the endemic species: Centaurs of Kalampaka, Centaurs the Milky and the protected species Anthemis the Cretan. The area is important for bird breeding, and includes populations of protected species such as whiteflies, owls, eagles and other birds of prey. The important fauna includes: European otters, myotides, rhinos, turtles, house snakes, butterflies, wolves, woodpeckers, tranosaurs, pipistrelles, alpine newts, vipers, tree lizards, snakes, snakes, etc. Also, the fish: Sperchios brianas, acupunctures, Macedonian brianas, etc. Habitat threatened by logging of mature oak stands, road widening, poaching, overgrazing, and tourism
Visitable Monasteries
Today six monasteries can be visited and specifically:
- The monastery of Agios Nikolaos of Asmenos or Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas, built in the 16th century, has a small church, decorated by the famous Cretan painter, Theofani Strelitza or "Batha", in 1527. A monk has lived there since 2015.
- The female Holy Monastery of Rousanou or Arsani which was founded in the middle of the 16th century and was decorated in 1560. Today it is a flourishing monastery with over 10 nuns (2015).
- The male monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, also known as the "Great Meteor", on the highest rock.
- The Monastery of All Saints or the Holy Monastery of Barlaam
- The Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity
- The female Holy Monastery of Agios Stefanos
