The Meteora Monasteries in Greece

The Meteora Monasteries consist of six surviving monasteries perched atop giant sandstone pillars, with their name meaning "suspended in the air" in Greek. Since the 11th century, hermit monks have climbed these towering peaks over 400 meters high using wooden ladders and ropes for spiritual practice. During the 15th-century revival of hermitic thought, a complex of 24 monastic buildings emerged. Renowned for their construction on nearly vertical cliffs, the complex preserves 11th-century cave cells, icon frescoes, parchment manuscripts, and an extensive wine collection. In 1988, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a "mixed natural and cultural heritage site." The monastery complex also served as a filming location for the James Bond movie "For Your Eyes Only," and dozens of monks still practice in the closed monasteries today. Happy Children's Day on June 1st! 😁