journey above the clouds with these mountain top towns
we’re travelling to new heights with some of the most vertigo-inducing man-made constructions on earth. not only do these teetering towns offer magnificent views and some breathtaking walks through nature, but they offer a portal into marvel of human creativity and ingenuity from as far back as ancient times. from grecian monasteries to the vestiges of ancient kingdoms, to medieval castles, these are the most gravity-defying towns to send your head spinning.
meteroa, greece
built between the 14th and 15th centuries, meteora is incredible feat of human engineering in one of the most hard to reach parts of the world. its collection of monasteries are balanced precariously on a narrow spire of rock, glowing as if blessed by the gods themselves in the early light of day. whilst largely abandoned, the six eastern orthodox monasteries still house a small number monks and nuns today.
atop a craggy, tree-shrouded rock tower in china’s mount fanjing sit two temples. named New Golden Summit or Red Clouds Golden Summit, the solitary steeple is part of a unesco world heritage site that also includes a conservation area, a nature reserve, and several buddhist sites. The area is one of the most sacred in Chinese Buddhism - as it has been for centuries. Visitors climb a veritable stairway to heaven to reach the park’s two most famous temples - The Temple of the Buddha and Maitreya Templa, that are separated by a narrow gorge that can be crossed via bridge.
sigiriya, sri lanka’s famous rock fortress is not only a visual wonder but a miracle of engineering way ahead of its time. also known as lion rock, for the lion-shaped palace that once perched atop it, sigiriya is a world heritage site. ascending to the top via a series of steep stairs, visitors pass through the open paws of a lion, and ancient rock paintings that remain today. the fortress houses some of asia’s best preserved water gardens that are maintained via a 1500 year old irrigation system involving hydraulic power, a system of underground tunnels, and gravity.
just a short day-trip out of barcelona, montserrat is a dreamy benedectine monk retreat that offers spectacular mountain views of catalunya. visitors can explore the magnificent monastery and steep cobbled streets, or take a funicular to the mountain peak where a range of walking trails offer sweeping views of the ranges below.
if you’re on instagram, chances are you’ve seen photos of ronda, the spanish city in the hills split in half by a spectacular mountain range and dramatic bridge. the third most visited destination in southern spain, the town is unique for the 100m deep gorge that runs through it. plenty of walking trails have been established around this central feature offering magnificent views - there’s even a steep path that leads visitors down to the bottom of the gorge.
taking the title for narrowest town on this list is castellofollit de la roca. teetering on a tiny surface area of one square kilometre, the medieval town is built on a basaltic ridge formed from the meeting of two lava flows. walking the streets of castellfollit is like stepping back into the middle ages, with extremely narrow cobblestone streets, old steeples and a charming chapel. the town also sits at the entrance of la garrotxa volcanic zone nature park, one of the best known examples of a volcanic landscape in the area.
