GreekEnglish (United Kingdom)

Home
Home

Home (3)

Very close to the road from Kalambaka to Meteora is the picturesque village of Kastraki, with the characteristic of traditional life and rich natural beauty, which particularly emphasizes the evocative landscape painting theoktista rocks of the monastic state. A small picturesque village, nestled in the arms of huge rocks that seem to protect it, is the last corner of secular life. Community created in the times of Ottoman rule in the unification of small settlements, from Greek mainland who fled here to escape the infamous ruler of Ioannina, Turk Ali Pasha. A Byzantine castle whose ruins still saved a few, gave its name to the village. Before the war the village kept intact the rural image of the Greek countryside. But today the development of transport and the massive turnout of tourists, has become a wonderful recreational camping site, restaurants and guesthouses, which offer pleasant relaxation to the visitors of Meteora. Kastraki was closely associated with the history of monasticism meteoric, since in this region held by the monasteries and centuries cultivated the rich vineyards, such as state (named Qastiro) at the official Turkish census ledger for the years 1454/5. In the same ledger indicate the tax exemptions and other financial benefits, it seems, had been granted in meteorites monks viticulture since the Vogiazit Asta years of Turkish occupation (1393-1394).

Μέσα σε ένα όμορφο και καταπράσινο περιβάλλον και στους πρόποδες του Κόζιακα σε υψόμ. 280μ βρίσκεται ( 1000 περίπου κάτοικοι) η Διάβα. Ανήκει στο Δήμο Καλαμπάκας και απέχει 3 χλμ. από αυτή. Ανατολικά του χωριού ρέει ο Πηνειός ποταμός, φυσικό όριο με την πόλη της Καλαμπάκας . Στο Δ.Δ. της Διάβας ανήκει και ο παραθεριστικός οικισμός της Κορομηλιάς ( υψόμ. 1150μ). Το παλαιό όνομα του χωριού ήταν Πρεβέντα ( = πέρασμα στη βλάχικη διάλεκτο απο το λατινικό ρήμα praevenio= διέρχομαι. Ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζουν οι μεταβυζαντινές εκκλησίες της Αγίας Παρασκευής, του Αγίου Δημητρίου και του Αγίου Αθανασίου.

Ο Πηνειός χωρίζει τα Μετέωρα από τη Διάβα. Από τη μια μεριά το μεγαλείο αλλά και η ανυπέρβλητη ομορφιά των Βράχων με την παγκόσμια ακτινοβολία και από την άλλη ένα τοπίο καταπράσινο με τη Διάβα να κρέμεται κυριολεκτικά από  την αγκαλιά του Κόζιακα.

Meteora is, after the Holy Mountain, the largest and constant presence since the establishment of the first ascetics today monasteries in Greece. From the historical evidence suggests that the monasteries of Meteora were thirty in total. Of these thirty monasteries six are in operation today and receive many pilgrims. There are also many smaller monasteries abandoned. Most of them were founded in the 14th century.

In the 14th century, Saint Athanasios the Meteorite, set up the first organized monastic priory with regulations and organized according to typical organized monasteries of Mount Athos.

Meteora was named by Saint Athanasius of Meteora Monastery of the Great Meteoro. Since then, over the Acropolis came and settled Monks and Nuns, who toil day and night work, fasting, vigil, not only for their own salvation but for the salvation of all people with long prayers and supplications.

The six visited monasteries of Meteora, is now restored and preserved for the most part in the mural decoration. In 1989, Unesco inscribed Meteora in the list of World Heritage Monuments, as a particularly important cultural and natural property.