Monastery of the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada)

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Agia Triada in Greek, sits on a tall, narrow pillar of sandstone near Kalambaka, and it is one of the most dramatic of the six active monasteries of Meteora in Greece. The rock rises sharply above the plain, and the monastery stands on its summit with sheer drops on every side, reached only by a long stairway cut into the stone. The setting looks out over the valley of the Pineios, the town of Kalambaka and the line of the Pindus mountains, and it is the kind of view that explains why monks sought such places.

The monastery follows Byzantine tradition and was built in the fifteenth century, with its main church completed around 1476, and it is a small complex of buildings clustered on the narrow platform. In the past, monks and goods were drawn up in nets and baskets by ropes and windlasses, and a wooden lift was used for supplies long after other monasteries had built steps and bridges. The monastery is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Together with the other Meteora monasteries and the rock pillars, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1988.

The approach is a challenge. From the road below, a path leads to the foot of the pillar, from which a flight of about one hundred and forty steps hewn from the rock climbs steeply up to the entrance. The steps are uneven and open to the elements, so sturdy shoes and a bit of fitness are needed, and the effort is repaid by the view. Inside, a small church with painted walls and a carved wooden iconostasis, a cloistered courtyard and a few rooms are open to visitors, and the atmosphere is quiet and unhurried because relatively few people make the climb.

Cinema fans may recognise the monastery. It appears in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, in a sequence in which Bond scales the cliff to reach the building, and the pillar itself is among the most photographed in Meteora. The film made the monastery known worldwide.

A strict dress code applies, with covered shoulders and knees, long trousers for men and skirts for women, and photography inside the church is not allowed. The monastery has a weekly closing day, and hours vary by season, so check before travelling. Allow forty-five minutes to an hour. Late afternoon light is excellent for photographs, and it is common to combine the visit with the Monastery of Roussanou and a sunset from the viewpoints on the road.