Meteora in Thessaly is one of the most spectacular religious sites in Europe. Credit: Vaso Chletsi, Greek Reporter
Religious tourism in Greece is a significant segment of the country’s tourism industry and includes visits to sacred sites such as centuries-old monasteries and churches. A substantial portion of both domestic and international visitors to Greece choose regions with religious or cultural sights as their primary or secondary destination during their stay in the country.
As one of Christianity’s earliest epicenters, Greece possesses a wealth of Orthodox Christian temples and monuments, annually attracting thousands of pilgrims who want to experience authentic Christian history. Serafim Polyzos, emeritus professor at the Polytechnic School of the University of Thessaly, has conducted extensive research into the spatial and economic dimensions of Greece’s religious tourism, with particular focus on the Thessaly region.
According to his findings, all Greek regions possess treasures that render them attractive to large numbers of tourists who focus on religious activities. Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches, cathedrals, chapels, and monasteries are at the heart of this.
Thessaly, one of Greece’s epicenters of religious tourism
Within Thessaly, the most significant Christian sites linked to religious tourism are the networks across Kalambaka and Meteora, Pelion, Skopelos, and Olympus. The Meteora complex is by far the region’s strongest attraction point, owing to its concentration of monasteries and their cultural and spiritual significance, along with its spectacular natural beauty. Of the original 24 monasteries, six remain operational today. Eighteen lie abandoned and in ruins, offering a glimpse into past centuries.
Additional noteworthy sites include the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the nearby town of Kalambaka, founded in the tenth or eleventh century with twelfth-century frescoes, and the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos Vituma, dating to 1161.
Professor Polyzos analysed visitor characteristics based on field research conducted at the University of Thessaly, involving 128 randomly selected tourists completing questionnaires in Greek and English. He found that women comprised 53 percent of respondents while men made up 47 percent. Greek visitors accounted for 28 percent and international visitors 72 percent.
Foreign visitors originated from diverse countries, many geographically distant from Greece, including the United States, Australia, India, Japan, and China, demonstrating the region’s global reach due to its rich Christian monuments. Substantial numbers came from Russia, Italy, Cyprus, and Romania, as well.
Notably, the majority of visitors held university or higher education qualifications, with minimal numbers possessing only basic education. This indicates that Greece’s religious tourism attracts people with advanced educational levels who want to immerse themselves in the country’s religious past. Visitors typically blend religious elements with cultural, artistic, historical, and natural activities during their stay in the country, paralleling patterns observed in other European religious centers, such as Mont Saint-Michel, the Vatican, and Florence.
Religious tourism constitutes an alternative tourism form with a substantial impact on Greece’s national and regional development.