The Monastery of Rousanou, now a convent, sits on one of the lower Meteora rocks and is connected to the main plateau by a narrow bridge, making it slightly more accessible than the other monasteries. It was founded around 1545, though the rock had been inhabited by hermits long before. The nuns who live here today maintain the gardens and the church with care.
The frescoes inside the chapel of Saint Barbara date from 1560 and depict scenes of Christian martyrdom in graphic detail — graphic enough that children may find them unsettling. The soft, warm tones of the paintings contrast with the austere rock outside. The views from Rousanou across the valley and toward the Great Meteoron are among the best in Meteora, and because it sees fewer visitors than Varlaam and the Great Meteoron, you can often have the terrace nearly to yourself.