A Mystical Land in Greece & Journey Through Ancient Delphi
This post is part of our Europe Travel Series. In my previous posts, I shared our experiences in Istanbul and Cappadocia. If you’d like to follow our journey from the beginning, you can start reading the series here.
If you’d like to read about our Athens experience, you can begin here.
When we were planning our Greece trip, we watched a video of Meteora and immediately fell in love with it. It didn’t look real at first—huge rock pillars rising from the ground with monasteries built on top, as if they were floating in the sky. At that moment, we knew we had to visit.
Meteora is famous for its dramatic rock formations and ancient monasteries-built centuries ago by monks seeking peace and complete isolation. At first, the monks lived in caves on these cliffs, leading very simple and difficult lives. Later, they built monasteries on top of the rocks so they could live and pray in silence, far away from the world.
The idea behind Meteora is simple but powerful: living away from distractions, staying close to faith, and finding peace in solitude above the world.
We also realized that reaching Meteora is not very easy. It is located near the town of Kalabaka, about five hours from Athens. Public transport is available, but it is not very convenient. Because of this, we decided to book a two-day guided tour, which turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.
On the tenth day of our journey, we checked out of our Airbnb in Athens early in the morning. We picked up breakfast and coffee from a nearby café before meeting our tour bus. However, once the journey began, we were informed that food and drinks were not allowed on the bus. It would have been helpful to know this in advance, but we quickly adjusted and continued our journey.
Around 10 AM, the bus stopped at a beautiful rest stop for coffee. The place had a lovely smell of chinaberry flowers, which made the break very refreshing. We finished our packed breakfast there before continuing the journey.
Our next stop was Delphi, one of the most important ancient sites in Greece. In Greek mythology, Delphi was believed to be the center of the world. It was home to the Oracle of Apollo, where people came to ask questions about their future.
The site is built on the slopes of Mount Parnassus and has ruins like the Temple of Apollo, an ancient theater, and a stadium. The guide explained parts of the site. We wanted to visit the stadium on top of the hill, but the guide mentioned we had only about 30 minutes left. So we had to climb quickly. In total, we spent only around one and a half hours in Delphi. It felt a bit rushed, but it was still a very powerful and unforgettable place.
Later in the afternoon, we made another stop at a roadside café for coffee and a quick restroom break before continuing our journey toward Meteora. It was the most beautiful journey, surrounded by majestic hills and endless stretches of yellow flowers that painted the entire route with their beauty.
The atmosphere was so relaxed that we stayed at the restaurant until closing time, enjoying the food, and the company.
If you’d like to read about our Athens experience, you can begin here.
When we were planning our Greece trip, we watched a video of Meteora and immediately fell in love with it. It didn’t look real at first—huge rock pillars rising from the ground with monasteries built on top, as if they were floating in the sky. At that moment, we knew we had to visit.
Meteora is famous for its dramatic rock formations and ancient monasteries-built centuries ago by monks seeking peace and complete isolation. At first, the monks lived in caves on these cliffs, leading very simple and difficult lives. Later, they built monasteries on top of the rocks so they could live and pray in silence, far away from the world.
The idea behind Meteora is simple but powerful: living away from distractions, staying close to faith, and finding peace in solitude above the world.
We also realized that reaching Meteora is not very easy. It is located near the town of Kalabaka, about five hours from Athens. Public transport is available, but it is not very convenient. Because of this, we decided to book a two-day guided tour, which turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.
On the tenth day of our journey, we checked out of our Airbnb in Athens early in the morning. We picked up breakfast and coffee from a nearby café before meeting our tour bus. However, once the journey began, we were informed that food and drinks were not allowed on the bus. It would have been helpful to know this in advance, but we quickly adjusted and continued our journey.
Around 10 AM, the bus stopped at a beautiful rest stop for coffee. The place had a lovely smell of chinaberry flowers, which made the break very refreshing. We finished our packed breakfast there before continuing the journey.
Our next stop was Delphi, one of the most important ancient sites in Greece. In Greek mythology, Delphi was believed to be the center of the world. It was home to the Oracle of Apollo, where people came to ask questions about their future.
Around 1:30 PM, we stopped for lunch at the beautiful place called Villa Symposium. The setting was stunning, with scenic surroundings that made the meal even more enjoyable. The food was good and it was a relaxing break after the climb at Delphi.
By evening, we finally reached Kalabaka and checked in at the Divani Hotel. After freshening up, we headed out to explore the town and soak in the calm evening atmosphere.
The town has a charming mid-sized feel, with streets lined with cozy cafés, small boutiques, and relaxed local life. What makes it even more special is the backdrop—towering, dramatic mountains rising right behind the town, creating a stunning and almost surreal setting.
In the evening, we returned to the hotel for dinner around 7:30 PM. The hotel had arranged a few reserved tables for guests, which made it feel warm and welcoming. We ended up sharing the space with other travelers, including an Australian couple, and had a lovely conversation with them, exchanging travel stories and experiences.
The town has a charming mid-sized feel, with streets lined with cozy cafés, small boutiques, and relaxed local life. What makes it even more special is the backdrop—towering, dramatic mountains rising right behind the town, creating a stunning and almost surreal setting.
You can read the magical details of Meteora and its breathtaking monasteries here.
Comments
Post a Comment