Introduction
Kalambaka is 356km (220 miles) NW of Athens; the circuit of the Meteora monasteries is approximately 25km (15 miles)
As you drive across the plain of Thessaly, which can seem endless on a hot summer day, you'll suddenly see a cluster of gnarled black peaks outside the town of Kalambaka. Some travelers have compared these crags to the mountains of the moon. The rock formations of the Meteora (the word means "in mid-air") are unique. Many geographers speculate that some 30 million years ago, all Thessaly was a vast inland sea; when the sea receded, sweeping the topsoil along, rock formations were left behind. Over the millennia, the Peneios River and the wind carved the rock into the weird, twisted shapes that now rise about 300m (984 ft.) above the plain. The Meteora is especially stunning in winter, when snow caps the Pindos range and when mists swirl around the monasteries.
The monasteries sit atop these sheer, slippery, seemingly unscalable rocks that really do seem to...
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Gertzos (also known as the Meteora)
This simple taverna has been in Kalambaka for more than 50 years, serving up standard Greek fare but also offering dishes reflecting the owners'...
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Vachos
If you want to eat outdoors, head for Vachos's small garden with views toward Meteora. The food is so well prepared that even standard dishes like...
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Panellino
When we were here on a chilly but beautiful February visit to the Meteora, Panellino was resolutely open when many other places were closed. The...
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