Perched dramatically atop a massive, sheer sandstone pillar, the Monastery of Rousanou was founded in the 14th century and later dedicated to Saint Barbara. The site survived severe damage during World War II before being beautifully restored and converted into a thriving active convent in 1988. The genius of Byzantine architecture is evident from how the monastery’s multi-tiered stone walls, wooden balconies, and lower living quarters are engineered directly into the contours of the vertical cliff face.