Monastery of St. Stephen (Agios Stefanos)

The Monastery of St. Stephen, or Agios Stefanos, is the Meteora monastery that is easiest to visit, standing on a rock edge just above the town of Kalabaka and linked to the road by a short stone bridge. The other monasteries are reached by many steps cut into the rock, but here the approach is almost level, which makes it a practical choice for visitors with limited time or mobility, and a good place to begin an exploration of Meteora.

Meteora is a group of huge sandstone pillars that rise from the plain of Thessaly, and its monasteries were built on top of the rocks by monks seeking isolation, mainly from the fourteenth century onward. Six remain active today, and together with the rock formations they were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1988. Agios Stefanos has a long history of its own. It was damaged during the Second World War, and after the war it was restored. Since the 1960s, the monastery has been home to a community of nuns, which gives it a quiet, domestic atmosphere compared with some of the others.

Inside, the main church, the katholikon, contains a beautifully carved wooden iconostasis, the screen that separates the nave from the sanctuary, decorated with delicate figures and plants. Wall paintings cover parts of the church, and the monastery's museum displays icons, vestments, manuscripts and liturgical objects, which give an idea of the wealth and devotion of the community through the centuries. A small shop sells icons, candles and goods made by the nuns, and the nuns also offer a warm welcome in their own way, with a courtyard and gardens.

The views from the terrace are some of the best in Meteora, taking in the town below, the Pindus mountains in the distance and the surrounding rock towers. The late afternoon light on the rocks is spectacular, so a visit near closing time is rewarding.

A strict dress code is enforced at all Meteora monasteries. Women should wear skirts that cover the knees and cover their shoulders, and men should wear long trousers; scarves or wraps are sometimes lent at the entrance. Photography inside the church is not allowed. Opening days and hours differ for each monastery, with closing days varying across the group, so check the current schedule. Allow about an hour, and consider combining the visit with a walk along the path to Kalabaka town.