Top 8 Caves 테살리아 - 중앙 그리스

The place is referred to as the monks' prison. Presumably, the monks were not imprisoned there like in a traditional prison, but rather spent time there after committing sins, praying for mercy.

East of the Pindus Mountains, mighty sandstone cliffs rise to a height of approximately 500 meters. 24 monasteries were once built on their summits. Monks and nuns still live in six of them today. These monasteries are now UNESCO World Heritage sites and are often referred to as "floating monasteries" because they appear almost suspended in fog or low clouds.

The television series "Treasures of the World – Heritage of Humanity," which I highly recommend, introduces culture-loving viewers to special places on every continent of our planet in short episodes. Yet despite the diversity of sacred and secular objects from the long history of humanity, they all have one thing in common: they have been recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites and thus enjoy a very special status. Here in Greece, one finds a site that undoubtedly deserves this distinction – even if only the ruins of the once magnificent buildings remain today: Delphi, known since pre-Christian times for the oracle associated with the deity Apollo. The following link in the ARD media library provides information (although only in German) about the sanctuary connected with an ancient oracle site in a 15-minute film =>> https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/schaetze-der-welt/ruinenstaette-delphi-apollonheiligtum-griechenland-folge-241/swr/Y3JpZDovL3N3ci5kZS82OTI2OTM4

An unpretentious walk to discover cliffs and small bays; maybe, at the end, you will even find your own personal Blue Lagoon!

A cave or shelter

very impressive cave

You can sleep in the cave

There are several caves in the formations of the Meteora rocks. The Theopetra Cave is particularly worth mentioning. This cave is home to the oldest man-made structure in the world. It is a stone wall that closes two-thirds of the entrance to the cave. It was built 23,000 years ago, probably as a barrier against cold and wind. The first documented hermitages in Meteora date back to the 11th century. These ascetics created small prayer niches next to or in their cave dwellings. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the ascetics began to climb higher, huge rocks with the help of winches and poles. The monks not only felt undisturbed in the Meteora monasteries, but also safer from looters and raids because the monasteries could only be entered via ladders and ropes. From the 14th century onwards, the monks built 19 monasteries and the facilities were supported financially and by granting privileges by pious regional rulers such as King Symeon. Over the years, numerous monasteries and hermitages were built.