点评:Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Meteora is not only of great historical and spiritual significance, it is an incredibly stunning sight of natural beauty with the monasteries perched atop towering sandstone rock pillars creating a magical scene. Construction of the monasteries began in the 14th century and continued through the 16th century, and their protected locations offered safe haven for the monks during times of political and religious persecution. At one time, there were 24 monasteries but today only 6 remain that can be visited. Each has its own unique characteristics. We visited Meteora as part of an overnight coach tour from Athens that included visiting Delphi on day 1 and the monasteries on day 2 before heading back to Athens. Our first visit was to the Holy Monastery of Varlaam which was beautiful and filled with Byzantine art and offered spectacular views of the region from its terraces. Our second tour was of St Stephan's Holy Monastery which was also interesting but not as enjoyable as it is probably the most visited of the monasteries by coach tours because of its easy access without needing to climb any stairs. The largest of the monasteries in the Great Meteoran Monastery. The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is probably the most photogenic of all of them the way it is magically perched isolated on a rock formation surrounded by the surrounding valley. The coach tour we booked from Athens was the most efficient way to see Meteora with the limited time we had. However, it would have been much more enjoyable to travel here on our own with a rental car which would have allowed us to visit 3-4 of the monasteries over a 2-day period. Even in late April, I was quite surprised to see how busy the monasteries were with tourists especially in the morning with all the coach tours visiting. It did take away from the experience somewhat, but it was still an amazing region to visit.
翻译:梅黛奥拉被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产,不仅具有重要的历史和精神意义,其自然美景也令人叹为观止。修道院坐落在巍峨的砂岩柱顶,构成了一幅神奇的景象。修道院始建于14世纪,一直延续到16世纪,其得天独厚的地理位置在政治和宗教迫害时期为僧侣们提供了安全的避难所。鼎盛时期,这里曾有24座修道院,但如今仅存6座可供参观。每座修道院都各具特色。我们参加了从雅典出发的梅黛奥拉一日游,行程包括第一天游览德尔斐,第二天参观修道院,最后返回雅典。我们的第一站是瓦尔拉姆圣修道院,这座修道院美轮美奂,充满了拜占庭艺术,从其露台上可以俯瞰整个地区的壮丽景色。我们的第二个行程是参观圣斯蒂芬修道院,虽然也很有趣,但不如第一个修道院那么令人愉快。由于无需爬楼梯,这里可能是旅游巴士游客最多的修道院,也是大梅黛奥拉修道院群中最大的修道院。圣三一修道院或许是所有修道院中最上镜的,它仿佛被赋予了某种魔力,孤零零地坐落在被山谷环绕的岩石之上。我们预订了从雅典出发的旅游巴士,在有限的时间里,这是游览梅黛奥拉最有效的方式。然而,如果我们租车自驾游览,两天内参观三到四座修道院,那将会更加愉快。即使在四月下旬,我仍然惊讶地发现修道院里挤满了游客,尤其是在早上,旅游巴士络绎不绝。这确实在一定程度上影响了我们的体验,但这里仍然是一个令人惊叹的地方。