Meteora, Greece

I suggest reading all you can before going - don't rely on a tour guide to give you the depth of perspective necessary to understand the history and the symbols & styles used in the Greek Orthodox Church.
I suggest visiting monasteries as soon as they open in the morning to avoid the big crowds.
For photography, I recommend a day or two exploring all the different different angles and possibilities, then be ready for the perfect shot on the next day or two as you experience the ever-changing light. Visit at sunrise & sunset for best photography. Sunset may give the best light since the the cliffs face to the southwest. If you are short on time, rent a car to zip around to the different photo angles as the light changes quickly at sunset. Otherwise, if you have time, walking is the best way to absorb the ambiance of this incredible area.
I suggest staying anywhere in Kastraki, which is a small town with fascinating architecture, cobbled streets, and closer walking distance to the rock towers & monasteries than the larger town of Kalambaka.
A few hours drive from Meteora you can hike Mount Olympus, which is culturally very important to Greece. Ascending Mount Olympus is challenging and scenic, with a clean, comfortable overnight dormitory-style hut that serves meals.
Our itinerary (below) combines Meteora with other fascinating experiences in northern Greece.

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I recommend carrying the excellent Lonely Planet guidebooks on the trip: 1) Greece by Paul Hellander, 2) Greek Islands, 3) Greek language phrasebook. If you will be hiking on the mainland, try The Mountains of Greece: A Walker's Guide (Cicerone Guide) by Tim Salmon. The DK Eyewitness and similar Insight Guide series are both excellent for dreaming, planning and leaving at home as glossy souvenirs. I enjoyed the historical fiction and romance Voice of the Goddess, by Judith Hand, 2001, which enlivens the Minoan era (or "Keftian" era, since the Egyptians of 1500 BCE called Crete "Keftiu") based upon archeological evidence and the author's imagination. (She also wrote The Amazon and the Warrior, a novel of Troy.)

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Meteora, Greece: Varlaam Monastery, founded 1517 AD Left: Varlaam Monastery, founded on this pinnacle in 1517 CE.

Below: A face decorates the side of a house in Kastraki, a village at the foot of Meteora.
Meteora: a face for house decoration

Right: Storks migrate between Greece and Africa, and some nest here in the Kastraki town square.

Greek Independence

The Greek War of Independence of 1821-1829 reclaimed Ottoman Turk holdings in the Peloponnese, Sterea Ellada, and the Cyclades and Sporades Islands, but intervention by Britain, France, and Russia would set up foreign kings to control Greece on and off for generations. With the decline of the Ottomans in the mid-1800's, the "Megali Idea (Great Idea)" of a new Greek Empire became popular for reclaiming former Byzantine Greek lands. The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 expanded Greece to include southern Macedonia, part of Thrace, more of Epiros, the North-East Aegean Islands, and union with Crete. After siding with the Allies in World War I, Greece invaded Turkey as far as Ankara. However, the young General Mustafa Kemal (later called Ataturk) drove the Greeks out of Anatolia, finally evaporating any Greek desire for the "Great Idea". In a huge exchange causing great hardships on everyone involved, 1.5 million Christians left Turkey and 400,000 Muslims left Greece. Greece also suffered terribly under Nazi occupation in World War II, with many civilians dying of starvation and half the Jewish population sent to death camps. Greece's turbulent history culminated in a 1946-1949 Civil War between monarchists and democrats, where more Greeks were killed than in World War II. Despair motivated nearly a million Greeks to seek better life in Australia (Melbourne), Canada, the USA (New York and Chicago), and other countries. After a coup by Colonels 1967-74 and later socialist rule, Greece has shifted politically to the right as of 2001. The economy is finally showing signs of improvement, and the standard of living is rising rapidly. Low and stable interest rates have hugely expanded car ownership. Greece proudly hosted world visitors at the lightly attended 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, which were broadcasted worldwide on television.

Meteora: Roussanou Monastery
Left: Monks at Roussanou Monastery have historically used the pulley system shown here to drawn supplies up from the valley below. Roussanou, built atop a rock pinnacle in 1545, is now a convent.

Below: Roussanou Monastery is now a convent.

Meteora: Roussanou Monastery is now a convent.

Left: Grand Meteora Monastery, founded in the 1300's CE on this steep pinnacle.

Below: Entry to Grand Meteora Monastery.

Entry to Grand Meteora Monastery, Greece

Below: Saint Nicholas Anapafsa is the English name for Agio Nikolaou Anapafsa Monastery (Greek name), at Meteora:
Meteora, Greece: Anapafsa Monastery