Kalambaka (Καλαμπάκα) may date as early as 200 B.C.; it was certainly a location in the 10th Century Byzantine Empire. The town itself sits below The Meteora, a great site of monastics and monasteries since the 13th Century A.D. but dating back to a location of Christian Ascetics since the 11th Century A.D.
The monasteries dominate the landscape to the North:
The rocks in this region are both striking and unique, rising up in some cases as almost pillars above the landscape. The caves in the rocks were used by the early ascetics to escape the world and be alone:
Looking south, one sees the plains of Thessaly, famous in Ancient Greece for their horseman:
I should include more pictures of our meals when I took them:
(Administrative note: We will be taking a break from Greece next week as we head back to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.)
A rather amazing rock formation.
ReplyDeleteLooks like terra cotta tile is the favored roof covering. I like the look it gives overlooking the town.
Yes to food pictures!
Leigh, it was amazing (it gets more amazing when we get to the top).
DeleteLots and lots of Terra Cotta, almost exclusively. Also most buildings are made of concrete. I should have taken a picture - in many instances they will build the form for a two or three story house but only build out the first story. Apparently they will keep the others in the event that they need to expand later on.
Food pictures - I will certainly include them going forward!
Nope to building that close to towering rock formations, yep to food photos TB.
ReplyDeleteNylon12, It is still apparently a geologically active area so there is a bit of more risk. Given that Greece on the whole is geologically active, I think it is just "a thing", like it is in California.
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