Sümela Monastery: Cliffside Architecture above the Altındere Valley
Sümela seems to borrow its outer wall from the mountain. The monastery’s buildings follow the cliff face above the forested Altındere Valley...
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Monasteries: Stories & Places to Explore
Explore Meteora with a practical guide to its six active monasteries, viewpoints, walking plans and a thoughtful one- or two-day visit in Greece. Discover Sümela’s Greek Orthodox heritage and dramatic setting near Trabzon, with practical advice on access, interpretation and planning the visit.
Start with Meteora Travel Guide: Monasteries, Views and a Slower Visit and Sümela Monastery: A Thoughtful Visit Above the Altındere Valley.
10 Monastic and Sacred Landscapes: Cliffs, Rock-Cut Spaces and Historic Sites
A monastery’s setting can be part of its story long before you reach the entrance. A building high on a rock, a path through mountain woodla...
Thiksey Monastery: Maitreya, Buddhist Art and the Indus Valley
Thiksey rises above the Indus Valley in a cascade of white buildings, with the higher temples drawing your eye towards the summit. The setti...
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Meteora: Monasteries, Rock Pillars and the Art Inside
At Meteora, the first question may be how anything was built up there. Monasteries sit above immense rock pillars, with wooded ground and op...