Monastery of Great Meteoron

Kalabaka, Greece

The Monastery of Great Meteoron is the largest of the monasteries located at Meteora, though in 2015 there were only 3 monks in residence.

The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded in the mid-14th century by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the systematic organizer. For this reason, the foundation of this monastery is considered to be a turning point, or even better, the beginning of the organized monastisicm in Holy Meteora. Hosios Athanasios was born around 1302 in the medieval town of New Patras, today’s Hypati.

The Katholikon (main church), consecrated in honour of the Transfiguration of Jesus was erected in the middle of the 14th century and 1387/88 and decorated in 1483 and 1552. The central courtyard is embellished with beautiful 16th century frescoes. Take time to gaze at the artistic details of some of the best samples of Greek Byzantine art and then rush to the museum, where historical codices and religious icons of high value are on display. Once you’ve reached the summit, a rewarding view awaits you and the monastery calls for exploration.

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Address

Meteora, Kalabaka, Greece
See all sites in Kalabaka

Details

Founded: c. 1350
Category: Religious sites in Greece

More Information

www.visitmeteora.travel

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Varlaam Monastery (0,3 km)
Roussanou Monastery (0,7 km)
Meteora (0,6 km)
Holy Trinity Monastery (1,7 km)
St. Stephen Monastery (2,2 km)
St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery (0,3 km)

User Reviews

Sapna Srivastava (2 years ago)
Meteora has its special effects due to the geographical structures. The monk monasteries are one time see but the monk culture has been taken over by churches. There are better places to enjoy the high rise mountains and take pictures.
Rimas Trumpa (2 years ago)
Very beautiful views but large parts of the monastery were closed.
Jason Georgarakis (2 years ago)
Stunning view and a life changing experience. I would definitely recommend it during the winter time. ( If you are a photographer and you want to bring a drone you must take permission from CAA )
David Tsani (2 years ago)
A beautiful holy place which I had the luck of visiting it. Definitely recommend it!!!
Svetlana Sapkina (2 years ago)
This place is very special. It looked for me as another world or another universe. It's great to be here and to feel the spirit. I thought the presence of God feels everywhere and I has the feeling I want to stay here for a long time. Good to know about the open hours ,some of places were closed bcs of renovation or service. You can not visit all territory in monastery but some places and churches. Be prepared for 200-300 stairs in some of them. Visiting places are very good organized and its possible to buy some souvenirs near the entrances. Highly recommended to visit all monasteries
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The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

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