Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada)

What it is and why it matters

The Holy Trinity, Agia Triada in Greek, is the most isolated monastery in Meteora: it stands alone at the top of a rock tower, separated from the road by a ravine. Sources mention it as early as 1362, although tradition attributes its foundation to the monk Dometios in 1438. Its main church has an inscription dating it to 1475–1476. It is the monastery that appears in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981).

The monastery of For Your Eyes Only

In the film, with Roger Moore, the Trinity is the abandoned monastery of Saint Cyril, at the top of the rock. The producers had permission from the Greek Ministry of Culture to film inside, but the monks objected and only the exterior was filmed; for the interiors a set was built on a nearby crag. Filming lasted months and many locals worked on it as stuntmen and technicians. What you recognise today is the rock tower and the monastery on top, seen from the road. Inside there is nothing from the film: it is still an inhabited monastery.

What you see inside

• The katholikon, a cross-shaped church with a dome on two columns. Its frescoes were begun in 1741 and painted by two monks, Antonios and Nikolaos.
• The narthex, wide and vaulted, built in 1689 and painted in 1692.
• The chapel of Saint John the Baptist, a small rotunda cut into the rock, with frescoes of 1682. It held a treasure that the Germans took in the Second World War.
• The garden and viewpoint, from where you see Kalambaka at your feet and the Pineios valley.

Photos are not allowed inside the churches. Allow an hour with the climb and descent.

Opening hours and closing days

According to the hours published for 2026, it is open 10:00 to 16:00 all year and closed on Thursdays. It opens an hour later than the others: if you are an early riser, start with Saint Stephen's, which is next door and opens at 9:00. Hours may change on religious holidays.

Entry and clothing

Entry costs €5 per person, in cash, at the door. Under-12s do not pay. There is no reservation.

Women, skirt below the knee and shoulders covered; skirts are lent at the entrance. Men, long trousers. No vest tops.

The climb

It is the hardest of the six. From the road you go down to the foot of the rock and climb again by a stairway cut into the stone. The stairway has about 145 steps; counting the descent from the road, Visit Meteora speaks of more than 300. There is also a lift, which is not for visitors. It is not accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair, and in the heat it is heavy going: go in the morning or late in the day.

Getting there and parking

By car. It is on the monasteries road, on the side facing Kalambaka, near Saint Stephen's. There are few spaces beside the access: read the car park page.

On foot from Kalambaka. The M6 section of the path network leaves from the Byzantine church of Kalambaka and climbs to the Trinity in 2.22 km with 470 m of ascent. It is the steepest in the network: set out early, with mountain footwear and at least a litre of water per person. You can return by the M7 section, 3.22 km, which descends towards the Kalambaka high school. We explain it in monks' footpaths.

With children and teenagers

Teenagers like knowing a James Bond film was shot here, and the climb is a small challenge. With small children, the stairway is long: consider whether it is worth it or whether you prefer Saint Stephen's, next door and without steps.

Combine it

Saint Stephen's is a few minutes by car, on the same side of the road. If you sleep in Kalambaka, the M6 path leaves from the village: you climb to the Trinity, continue along the road to Saint Stephen's and come down.