Offbeat Traveler: Remote monasteries of Meteora in Greece
Fountain Valley resident Gene Minick captured this photo of Holy Trinity Monastery during a trip to Greece in May. It is one of several monasteries still in use.
(Milos Bicanski / Getty Images)A lift transports a priest to Holy Trinity Monastery. Before the 1920s, monks had to climb ladders or be pulled up in nets to access Metéora’s monasteries. (Milos Bicanski / Getty Images)
A lifting net (left, background) was once used to enter the monastery. (Milos Bicanski / Getty Images)
Great Metéoron Monastery is perched on the highest pinnacle among those occupied and was the first monastery to be built at Metéora. Today, it houses a folklore museum. (Aris Messinis / AFP / Getty Images)
Visitors view religious artifacts inside Great Metéoron Monastery. (Milos Bicanski / Getty Images)
The skulls of deceased monks in an ossuary, as seen through a locked door. (Milos Bicanski / Getty Images)
The multilevel St. Nikolas Monastery is one of two unoccupied monasteries at Metéora. (Aris Messinis / AFP / Getty Images)
The interior of St. Nikolas Monastery. (Aris Messinis / AFP / Getty Images)
This monastery was first occupied by the monk Varlaám and continues to house a religious community. (Milos Bicanski / Getty Images)
Tourists ascend steps leading to Varlaám Monastery. (Aris Messinis / AFP / Getty Images)
Built on ruins of older structures, this monastery rose in the 16th century. (Aris Messinis / AFP / Getty Images)
The view from the balcony at Roussanou Monastery. (Aris Messinis / AFP / Getty Images)