Meteora, Greece

Greece-8, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

The Metéora which means "suspended rocks", "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above" in Greek, is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Kalambaka, Greece and is second only to Mount Athos. The monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Peneios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. The Metéora is home to six monasteries and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
List of Monasteries:

1) The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron
2) The Holy Monastery of Varlaam
3) The Holy Monastery of Rousanou/St. Barbara
4) The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas
5) The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen
6) The Monastery of Holy Trinity

Most of these monasteries are perched on high cliffs and accessible by staircases cut into the rock formations. They were created to serve monks and nuns following the teachings of the Greek Orthodox Church. Much of the architecture of these buildings is Athonite in origin.