Located near the city of Kalambaka, Greece, the Meteora monasteries are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name Meteora means "to lift up." This name describes the location of the monasteries, which were built on high sandstone cliffs. When it is foggy, the monasteries on the rocks appear to float between heaven and earth. Built to last forever: the Meteora monasteries built on sandstone cliffs are called "pillars of heaven." They are the skyscrapers of medieval Greece.
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 structure in the world built by humans. 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 within their cave dwellings.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, the ascetics began to climb higher, enormous rocks with the help of winches and stakes. The monks felt not only deliberately 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 through the granting of privileges by pious regional rulers such as King Symeon. Over the years, numerous monasteries and hermitages were established.
Over time, the number of monasteries and hermitages rose to a total of 41.