Page 465 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

GREECE  463

Katholikón VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Dedicated to
Agioi Pántes Practical Information
(All Saints), the Kalampáka. n Pindou &
church is adorned Ioannínon streets (24320-78000).
with frescoes, Megálo Metéoro: Tel 24320-
including one of 75398. Open summer: Wed–Mon;
Theofánis (right) winter: Thu–Mon. Varlaám:
and Nektários, Tel 24320-22277. Open summer:
its founders. Sat–Thu; winter: Sat–Wed. Agíou
Nikoláou: Open Sat–Thu.
Rousánou: Tel 24320-22649.
Open Thu–Tue. Agías Triádas:
Tel 24320-22220. Open summer:
Fri–Wed; winter: Fri–Tue. Agíou
Stefánou: Tel 24320-22279.
Open Tue–Sun. All monasteries:
Closed 1–3pm. & 5 Agías
Triádas & Agíou Stefánou.
Transport
@

Ascent Tower
Goods and
people were
brought to the
top of the rock
in a net that
was pulled up
by a winch
mechanism,
made in 1536.

Varlaam
Founded in 1518, the monastery of
Varlaám is named after the first hermit to
Entrance live on this rock in 1350. The katholikón
(main church) was built in 1542 and
contains frescoes by the Theban
iconographer Frágkos Katelános.

The Building of
the Monasteries
Though it is unknown how the first
hermits at Metéora reached the tops
of these often vertical rock faces, it is
likely that they hammered pegs into
tiny gaps in the rock and hauled
building materials to the summits.
Another theory is that kites were
flown over the tops, carrying strings
attached to thicker ropes, which
were made into the first rope ladders.
How the ladders were anchored to
the rock is uncertain.

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