*WS12- the hanging monasteries of Kalambaka, Greece*
After introducing the Hanging Temple in Shanxi, China, I want to introduce a Western version.
The hanging monasteries in Kalambaka refer to the Eastern Orthodox monasteries built on top of sandstone peaks in north central Greece, near the town of Kalambaka.
The monasteries are of course UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The peaks were first inhabited by Byzantine monks in the 11th century. The hermit ideal was "to be alone with God". Most of the monasteries were built in the 14th and 15th centuries. They perched on high cliffs and were accessible by staircases cut into the rock formations. The access was deliberately made difficult.
More than 20 were built and they flourished until the 17th century. Today 6 remain.
We spent a day here in 2012 and visited a few of them. Together with us were fellow classmate Tan Phaik Thean and wife.
The 1st 2 photos show the general view of the region and the town of Kalambaka. The 3rd photo shows 3 rock peaks and on top of the middle peak is the Varlaam Monastery, the 2nd largest of the surviving 6. Access is climbing up the cliff face. Wow, only Spiderman can do that? Of course not! Access is at the back, 4th photo, just 200+ steps, you and I could do it. Shown also a goods cage being lifted to the peak and the church building on top.
Showing two others: the Holy Monastery of Roussanou. This one we did not go up. We were on a "free and lazy" tour mah! Lazy a bit. The next is Holy Trinity which we did go up, on the other less steep side of course.
After introducing the Hanging Temple in Shanxi, China, I want to introduce a Western version.
The hanging monasteries in Kalambaka refer to the Eastern Orthodox monasteries built on top of sandstone peaks in north central Greece, near the town of Kalambaka.
The monasteries are of course UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The peaks were first inhabited by Byzantine monks in the 11th century. The hermit ideal was "to be alone with God". Most of the monasteries were built in the 14th and 15th centuries. They perched on high cliffs and were accessible by staircases cut into the rock formations. The access was deliberately made difficult.
More than 20 were built and they flourished until the 17th century. Today 6 remain.
We spent a day here in 2012 and visited a few of them. Together with us were fellow classmate Tan Phaik Thean and wife.
The 1st 2 photos show the general view of the region and the town of Kalambaka. The 3rd photo shows 3 rock peaks and on top of the middle peak is the Varlaam Monastery, the 2nd largest of the surviving 6. Access is climbing up the cliff face. Wow, only Spiderman can do that? Of course not! Access is at the back, 4th photo, just 200+ steps, you and I could do it. Shown also a goods cage being lifted to the peak and the church building on top.
Showing two others: the Holy Monastery of Roussanou. This one we did not go up. We were on a "free and lazy" tour mah! Lazy a bit. The next is Holy Trinity which we did go up, on the other less steep side of course.
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