Kalambaka

In the shadow of the giant rock pillars of Meteora, Kalambaka sprawls over a verdant land in peaceful slumber ages after its solemn duty as the guardian of the holy site. Today, the town does not have much to offer except for several inspiring museums. With the monolithic hills of the Meteora in the backdrop, it doesn’t seem to need anything else. Visitors come to Kalambaka seeking a sense of profound presence engraved in the town’s history. And, they find traces of it in the churches and among the Byzantine landmarks scattered around. The upbeat life in tourist hotspots is not characteristic of Kalambaka, you will find an atmospheric setting unlike anywhere else.

Pay a visit to the old church of Saint John the Baptist, and you will witness the prehistoric heritage of Kalambaka with your own eyes. Inscriptions on one of the church walls testify to the oldest known settlement in the area dating back to the 4th century BC. After it got burned to the ground in World War II, modernization took hold of the town. It became a popular stop on the way to the Meteora. For a feel of how it looked before its renovation, the old district is a perfect site. It spices up walking tours with traditional houses right at the foot of the giant hills. Kalambaka will wrap you in an otherworldly appeal before you even set foot on Meteora.