Kalampaka (pronounced* "Kala-bah-ka")
* the "mp" combination in Greek is pronounced like a hard "b" sound
From Elassona we travel south and then west to reach Kalampaka. It was built in the 10th c. as a Byzantine fortress, called then Stagoi (Στάγοι). The only remaining site from the fortress if the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, which we will visit. Kalampaka is at the foot of the Meteora, the recognizable shapes of ancient rock formations, located in the northwest part of the Thessalian plain, called the breadbasket of Greece.
There is a large agricultural cooperative around Kalampaka, with over 3,000 farmers. The region, close to the rich Thessaly plain, however is isolated; While Meteora attracts thousands of visitors and tourism is partly what sustains Kalampaka, there is a need to diversity economically since most tourists do not remain in the town for long periods of time but leave after a few hours of visits to the rock monasteries. Agricultural products include wheat, corn barley. and the ubiquitous olives. There is also a wild mushroom museum, a woodworking school, and a brass foundry in Kalampaka! Bolstering the tourist economy is rock climbing.
During the German occupation of WWII much of the city was destroyed. The one structure that survived we will visit after checking into our hotel, the Divani Meteora Hotel, http://divanimeteorahotel.com
There is a large agricultural cooperative around Kalampaka, with over 3,000 farmers. The region, close to the rich Thessaly plain, however is isolated; While Meteora attracts thousands of visitors and tourism is partly what sustains Kalampaka, there is a need to diversity economically since most tourists do not remain in the town for long periods of time but leave after a few hours of visits to the rock monasteries. Agricultural products include wheat, corn barley. and the ubiquitous olives. There is also a wild mushroom museum, a woodworking school, and a brass foundry in Kalampaka! Bolstering the tourist economy is rock climbing.
During the German occupation of WWII much of the city was destroyed. The one structure that survived we will visit after checking into our hotel, the Divani Meteora Hotel, http://divanimeteorahotel.com
The four views below give a perspective of the beauty of this region. Top two are of the town of Kalampaka with views towards Meteora. Below is the Hotel Divani Meteora, sitting at the foot of the rocks where we spent the night after the long drive from Thessaloniki; right photo is from outside my room looking toward Meteora in the evening with a storm brewing. The Divani Meteora Hotel could not be in a better location.....location.....location.
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