Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Skellig Michael - Ireland

Ireland only has 2 places on the World Heritage List and thanks to Luca i've this card from one of them, Skellig Michael.

Photo by Liam Blake

Skellig Michael being founded in the 7th century, for 600 years the island was a centre of monastic life for Irish Christian monks. The Gaelic monastery, which is situated almost at the summit of the 230-metre-high rock became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It is one of Europe's better known but least accessible monasteries.

Since the extreme remoteness of Skellig Michael has until recently discouraged visitors, the site is exceptionally well preserved. The very spartan conditions inside the monastery illustrate the ascetic lifestyle practiced by early Irish Christians. The monks lived in stone 'beehive' huts (clochans), perched above nearly vertical cliff walls. - in: wikipedia

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