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Meteora
is an area in Thessaly (Central Greece) and
Kalampaka is the city under the rock towers of
Meteora. The thing that makes Meteora so special is the
monasteries on the top of the rock towers. The monasteries, the
amound of peaks to climb and the paths for hiking brings in
Meteora the whole year many tourists.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:
Situated in the district of Thessaly, prefecture of Trikala,
province of Kalambaka, to the east of the Pindos Mountains. The
monasteries lie on the south-facing slopes of the Andikhasia
Mountains in the upper valley of the Pinios River, 1-2km north
of Kalabaka and approximately 25kms north-north-west of Trikkala.
The site lies just north of the E87 between Ioannina and Larisa.
The zone described as being under protective status extends from
a point some 0.5km north of the town of Kalambaka in a
north-westerly direction for some 2-3km. It is 1.5km at its
widest point and includes the village of Kastraki. 39°45'N,
21°37'E.
 DATE
AND HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT:
The area is protected by legislative provisions including
protective status for the village of Kastraki. Inscribed on the
World Heritage List in 1988.
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.
CULTURAL HERITAGE:
The Meteora Group of Monasteries comprises the following
monasteries: Ascension of Jesus Christ; Transfiguration of the
Saviour; Varlaam, Saint Nikolas Anapafsas; Roussanou; Holy
Trinity; and Saint Stephan. These are built directly on the
rock's surface without foundations as such. Religious life,
starting in the form of hermits dwellings, can be traced to
around 1,000 AD. The first monastic community emerged in the
14th century, and was most successful during the 15th and 16th
centuries. By the 17th century, the monastic population had
dwindled to one-third of its original size. The site was bombed
during World War II and many art treasures stolen. Details of
the history of individual monasteries are available in the World
Heritage nomination. The monasteries represent a unique example
of monastic life since the 14th century.
CIENTIFIC 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, includingchemical analysis of
colours and concrete injection. The monasteries lie in an area
within which different types of building work is prohibited or
limited.
MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS: The major threats to the
sites are both natural and man-made. The former includes the
possibility of earthquake damage; earthquakes occurring
frequently but are not of a high intensity. The latter include
disturbance by low-flying aircraft. The Platanus forests are
being felled and the vulture species require access to safe,
artificial feeding sites.
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