Meteora — one of the holiest and most beautiful places in Greece — is a breathtaking experience and a bucket list requirement for world travelers.

Made up of a series of monasteries sitting atop natural pillars in central Greece, Meteora is one of the country’s premier tourist destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in two categories — nature and art.

For the first time, this spectacular site is featured on an Explorica tour—Italy, Meteora, and Athens. Check out the itinerary, and read on below for five things you need to know about Meteora.

1 – Meteora means “suspended in the air”

The name says it all: Derived from the ancient Greek word metéōros, meaning “raised from the ground, hanging, lofty,” Meteora gets its name from the monasteries that sit high atop the stone pillars. Averaging about 1,000 feet above the ground, on a foggy day, it looks like the buildings are suspended in midair.

The monasteries aren’t all that’s suspended in the air, though: Meteora also features caves where hermits lived, as well as a prison where monks who were expelled from the monastery were kept.

2 – The pillars took millions of years to form

The rock formations are made from sandstone and conglomerate rocks rising from the ground; they took about 60 million years to form. The area is significant for its archaeology as well as its geology: The nearby cave of Theopetra contains archaeological evidence of Neanderthals, and the first evidence of a man-made structure, a stone barrier that blocked the cave’s entrance.

3 – Monks have lived there for over a thousand years

Hermit monks first settled in Meteora as early as the 9th century to live lives of solitude and meditation. They climbed the tall pillars to isolate themselves from civilization and, at times, to escape persecution.

The first Eastern Orthodox monasteries were built in Meteora in the 14th and 15th centuries, using incredible architecture and decorated with post-Byzantine style paintings. The monks who lived in the monasteries used baskets and ropes to climb the cliff sides and to obtain goods and food. When not in use, rope ladders could easily be pulled up to restrict access.

4 – Six of the original 24 monasteries are still standing

Six of the original 24 monasteries are still functional, with four serving as monasteries and two as nunneries, and a total of just over 50 people still living there. The rest of the monasteries sit in ruin, though the remaining six have also had their struggles: Bombing during World War II caused damage to two, St. Stephen’s Monastery and the Roussanou Monastery.

5 – Today, thousands flock to Meteora each year

Luckily for visitors, rope ladders were replaced with steps carved into the rock in the 1920s, so tourists can climb up to view the monasteries up close and see the incredible panoramic views from the tops of the pillars. More daring tourists go rock climbing.

James Bond fans tend to flock there as well, as the Holy Trinity Monastery was featured in this hilariously awful action sequence in the movie For Your Eyes Only.

Whatever reason brings you there, you’ll be thrilled by this beautiful site. Take a look at the itinerary for our Italy, Meteora, and Athens tour, and give us a call to learn more about how we can get you there!