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THE Patras (ancient Greek: Patras) is the capital of the Prefecture of Achaia, the region of Western Greece and the largest urban center and port of the Peloponnese with 213,984 inhabitants according to the official census of 2011. It is the third largest city in Greece after Athena and Thessaloniki. Patras is the capital of the Regional Unit of Achaia, of the Region of Western Greece, as well as the seat of the homonymous municipality, while the seat of the Decentralized Administration of the Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian Sea has also been designated.
It is an important urban center and has one of the largest ports in Greece which is a very important channel of communication with Italy and the western Europe, important both in terms of transport and trade. Through it, mainland Greece is connected with both Ionian islands (eg Cephalonia, Ithaca, Corfu and less often with Zakynthos) as well as with Italian ports, such as Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, Venice and Trieste.
At a glance
Ideal visit period January - March
Patras is the largest economic, commercial and cultural center of the Peloponnese and western Greece.
During the Roman period, when the city flourished, Patras was a cosmopolitan center of the Mediterranean.
According to Christian tradition, it is the place of martyrdom of St. Andrew, who is also the patron saint of the city. Also in Patras dominates the imposing Church of Agios Andreas which is the largest church in Greece and one of the largest in the Balkans, where there are also kept relics of the saint and small parts of the cross he martyred and together with the older neighboring and homonymous smaller church compose an important place of worship for Orthodox Christians from Greece and around the world.
It is called Gate of Greece to the West, as it is an international trade center, a major port and a hub for trade and communication with Italy and western Europe in general.
The Rio-Antirrio Bridge "Charilaos Trikoupis", which was inaugurated and put into operation in 2004, connects the suburb of Patras Rio with the village of Antirrio in Etoloakarnania, thus connecting the Peloponnese with western Central Greece. The bridge is also part of the Ionian Road (A5) and the European Road 55 (E55).
The city boasts and is famous for one of the biggest European carnivals, the Patras Carnival, with a multitude of events and the main features of which are the spectacular dances, the big parades and the impressive chariots, many of which often have a satirical character.
The city of Patras was also the European Capital of Culture for 2006.
Patras and the wider region have a long tradition in the political affairs of the country, having highlighted a large number of Prime Ministers in Greek history: the Papandreou family (three Prime Ministers, George, Andreas, George), Dimitrios Gounaris, Panagiotis Kanellopoulos are some well-known examples. The former President of the Hellenic Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, was also from Patras.
The Patras Carnival is both the largest and the oldest carnival event in Greece and one of the largest in the world in terms of carnival participation and its history. It has 190 years of history. The Carnival of Patras is not an isolated event but a set of events that include dances, parades, hidden treasure hunting, carnival of the little ones etc. The events start on January 17 and last until Shrove Monday. It culminates in the last weekend of Carnival with Saturday night's parade of crews on Saturday, the spectacular big parade of chariots and crews on Sunday and finally the ritual burning of the carnival king at the pier of Agios Nikolaos in the northern port of Port. Its characteristic principles are spontaneity, improvisation, source inspiration and volunteerism.
How to get there
By air
By airPatras is connected to European destinations through Araxos Airport, which is about 45 km from the city center. For the summer season there are regular Ryanair flights to and from London (Stansted), Paphos and Milan (Bergamo) and other companies' flights to and from Switzerland and Germany as well as charter flights. The access to the airport is exclusively by road and the transport to the city of Patras is carried out by bus of KTEL Achaia, by taxi or by private means. The time distance between Patras and the Airport is about 40 minutes.
By train
By trainPatras is connected to the national railway network through the OSE "Patra-Aigio-Diakopto-Kiato" bus line, which connects Patras with the Kiato Railway Station, which is the terminal of the Athens Suburban Railway. In the past, Patras was connected by rail with Athens, Corinth, Pyrgos, Kyparissia and Kalamata through the old metric railway lines Piraeus-Patras and Patras-Pyrgos-Kalamata which have now been abolished. However, it is planned to reconnect Patras with the Tower by reopening the metric line. Also, a new double railway line is being built that will connect the New Port of Patras and Patras with Athens and the "Eleftherios Venizelos" Airport. The line has been completed in the section Airport-Kiato, the section Kiato-Aigio is expected to be completed in 2019, the section Aigio-Rio is under construction while the section Rio-Port of Patras is missing. In the Airport-Kiato section the line has electric drive.
Patras, the tram, 1920s
From 1902-1917 there was an electric tram in Patras, the first in Greece with two routes: a) The first, of "Kato Poli", started from the district of Agios Dionysios, followed along Agios Andreou Street and ended in Ities. Its length was 5.3 km. B) The second route, of "Ano Polis", also started from the district of Agios Dionysios, followed Agiou Andreou Street and turned into D. Gounari Street, then Agiou Georgiou Street and P.P. Germanou and ended in Tabahanon square (at the place where the school complex of Georgios Glarakis is today). Its length was 1.7 km.
By road
By roadPatras is a junction of three major roads. To the east of the city is the Olympia Odos, which connects the city with Athens, Corinth and cities of the Northern Peloponnese. To the north there is the Rio-Antirrio Bridge and the Ionian Road, which connects the city with Central Greece and Epirus, while to the south there is the National Road 9, which connects the city with Pyrgos and Kalamata, as well as other cities. and locations in the western Peloponnese. The new Patras - Pyrgos - Tsakona Motorway is also under construction.
By boat
By boatThe port has always played an important role in the economic, social and political life of the city and the wider region. During the last century it experienced a period of great prosperity as a center of raisin trade. The advantages of its geographical location reserved an extensive period of prosperity, which marked the life of Patras and largely shaped the characteristics of the local economy.
Subsequently, the decline and decline of the raisin trade dragged the port into a period of stagnation and later decline, which became particularly intense in the first post-war years. However, the development of ferry transport led to a new period of prosperity, which began in the 1960s and continues today with very positive prospects.
The characteristics of the port throughout the interwar period until the beginning of World War II define a robust port with intense commercial activity. There was a naval connection of Patras with almost all of western Greece, as well as with Italy and Albania.
World War II creates a turning point followed by a phase of inactivity and reorganization after liberation. From 1951-52 it begins to regain significant commercial activity in the context of the changed post-war conditions. The conditions that determined the current character of the port have been underway since the end of the 50's.
In the last 30 years, both Patras and its port have changed dramatically. Particular changes in the character of the port have taken place in the last three years, mainly due to the recent crisis in the Balkans, where the preferences of tourist and freight flows have changed.
The radical differences, due to local conditions and more general pan-Hellenic evolutionary trends, made the port really unrecognizable. The year 1960 can be characterized as a milestone, because it is the year when the first ferry-boat is launched on the line Greece - Italy. It was the ferry "Egnatia" and his maiden voyage was greeted with music and fireworks. This line started with a collaboration of the Greek ELMES (Hellenic Mediterranean Letters SA) and the Italian Adriatica di Navigazione S.p.A., which the following year launched the newly built "Appia".
The location of Patras as the closest important mainland port to Western Europe, as an urban center of supra-local scale and a transportation hub, favored its use by tourists, either as an entry-exit point or as a crossing point. This is particularly important for its urban planning, since the port, the railway line and the station, occupy an important, if not the whole part, of the city beach, and which in combination with the existence of industries on the southwest coast (Akti Dymaion ) make Patras a "seaside town without sea".
Today, the port is the most important maritime transport terminal of Western Greece and the most important ferry connection point of the country with Italy, while its role in the network of inland waterway connections with the Ionian islands has been weakened, after the development of its port. Kyllini as the main connection point of Zakynthos and Cephalonia.
Orient yourself
Patras is located on the north coast of the Peloponnese. It extends from the western ends of Mount Panacheikos (max. Altitude: 1,928 meters) to the shores of the Gulf of Patras, which is essentially a confluence of the Ionian Sea.
A central feature of the urban geography of Patras is its division into Ano and Kato city, which are connected to each other at points by stairs. This is the result of an interaction between the natural geography of the area and the model of human habitation. The Lower Town, which includes the 19th century urban core and the port, is located by the sea and stretches between the mouths of the rivers Glafkos and Haradros and is built on an originally riverine and swampy terrain, while the Upper Town covers the area of the older settlements, around the fortress and wider, on the western foothills of Mount Panacheikos before the Gulf of Patras.
The largest river in the area is Glafkos which flows south of Patras and originates from Panachaikos. Its waters have been collected since 1925 in a small mountain reservoir near the village of Souli and then channeled through pipelines to generate energy at the Glafkos hydroelectric station, the oldest hydroelectric plant in Greece. The waters are also used for the irrigation of the orchards of Eglykada and for the water supply of the city. Other rivers are the Charadros, the Melichos and the rushing torrent Diakoniaris.
Of great importance for the biodiversity of the area and for the preservation of its climate, is the swamp of Agyia, a small and coastal aquatic ecosystem, just 30 hectares located north of the city center. The main features of the wetland are the apparent rarity of its rescue in the heart of a densely populated urban center, with a relatively arid climate and the considered high, level of biodiversity with over 90 species of birds observed in the area until the early 1990s. , according to a study by the Patras office of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (E.O.E.)
How to move
Cab
CabThe taxis of the city are crimson in color and you will find them in many squares in the center of the city. The cost of transportation starts from 3,70 € for within the city routes and reaches 8 - 15 € approximately for Rio, Ag. Basil, Vrachneika etc. For a radio taxi call Taxi Express Patras 2610 450000 operates 24 hours a day.
By road
There are several car rental companies in Patras such as Hertz,Budget,Imperial Patras, Europcar.
What to see
Welcome to Patras In the city where fun, history and culture create a wonderful destination for all ages and all tastes!
Discover all that you did not know about the city on foot. Start your tour from Agiou Nikolaou street, the most famous road of Patras, which starts from Ano Poli and ends at the pier of Agios Nikolaos. The 192 steps of the street (from the latter you can even gaze at the city from above) are the "border" of the modern center with the Old Town, which is built around it Castle.
Stroll through the alleys with its impressive neoclassical and old mansions with colorful facades or walk along the fortress walls. Then go up to the Castle to admire the parts that have been saved (the main gate, the walls, the octagonal towers and a small theater) and relax enjoying a romantic sunset from its ramparts.
A walk in the Δασύλλιο, on the pine-covered hill next to the Fortress, will refresh you! Climb to the top, where you will find the municipal refreshment room, and enjoy your coffee with panoramic views of the city, the port and the bay. Patras is also famous for its squares that are full of life throughout the day. At night here the pulse of night entertainment beats! So take a walk on Georgiou AD square, in Olgas square or in Psila Alonia, admire their neoclassical buildings or relax in one of the countless cafes, ouzo and restaurants! In the evening walk the picturesque alleys of Hephaestus with its many ouzo bars and bars.
Important sights of the city are also the Church of St. Andrew on the homonymous coastal road, a real architectural masterpiece with unique hagiographies. The central dome of 46 m. Can be seen even from the port!
The Apollo Municipal Theater in Georgiou Square, a miniature of La Scala in Milan, can only impress you! It was designed in 1872 by Ziller and was one of the first opera houses in Europe, while today it houses DI.PE.THE. Patras. Do not forget to visit it Roman Conservatory, behind the 25th of March square in Ano Poli, which is even older than the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Discover also interesting city museums such as New Archaeological Museum, the Press Museum etc. If you belong to the romantic souls, look for it Lighthouse (exact copy of the Old), the symbol of Patras, opposite the church of Agios Andreas.
As you leave the city behind, visit its winery ACHAIA CLAUSS. On a green hill, 8 km SE of the center of Patras, its facilities stand out as one of the most important tourist attractions in the area. Browse the stone buildings, discover where the large carved oak barrels with mavrodafni of a century are kept and find out what enchanted the Bavarian Gustavo Klaus and he decided to make his wine here!
Entertainment
The city is famous for carnival which takes place every February. The youth of Patras together with the young people of the University are organized in groups, dressed in carnival costumes, dance in the streets, have parties and participate in events and the big carnival parade. Thousands of people take part in this spectacular festival every year.
The city offers many opportunities for entertainment and sports. Bands, orchestras and artists often give performances, while in the municipal painting exhibition and in private galleries there are exhibitions of well-known local and international painters and sculptors. There are also soccer fields and indoor gyms that cater to a large number of teams. Finally, Patras is famous for its nightlife and the many entertainment opportunities it provides.
Important sights of the city are the Old and New Church of Agios Andreas, theNew Archaeological Museum of Patras, the Archaeological Site of Voudeni, the Roman Monuments (Conservatory, Aqueduct, Amphitheater, Bridge), the Byzantine Castle, the Municipal Theater "Apollo", the Municipal Library, the Municipal Gallery, the Old Municipal Hospital, AchaiaClauss, the Lighthouse and the Forest.In addition, the Prefecture of Achaia has temples and monasteries with historical weight and picturesque villages worth visiting.
Studies
Schools and departments of the University of Patras and the University of Peloponnese operate in Patras, according to law 4610/2019 (Government Gazette 70 A / 19) abolished by the TEI of Western Greece (former TEI of Patras & TEI of Messolonghi where they merged in 2013 with Government Gazette A '132 / 5-6-2013) and integrated its schools and departments in the two institutions. The HEIs operating in Patras are inextricably linked to research institutes, which make the city an important scientific center with remarkable performance in technical education.
The higher education institutions of Patras are the following:
- Hellenic Open University: The administration buildings etc. are located in the area of Perivola, very close to the Indoor Gym of Apollo Patras but also to the river Glafkos and at a distance of 6½ southwest of the city center. Since March 2016, the library of E.A.P. is housed in a house in the Koukouli district (address: Patron-Klaus 183), relatively close to the administration buildings.
- University of Patras: Founded in 1964. The main facilities of the University are located in Rio, a suburb of the city, 7 km northeast of the center of Patras. Some departments of the institution are housed in the facilities of the former TEI of Western Greece.
- University of Peloponnese: The institution based in Tripoli, Arcadia, has a branch in Patras. The facilities of the former TEI of Western Greece house the School of Engineering and its three departments.
The facilities of the former TEI of Western Greece are located in the Koukouli district and on the borders of the Taraboura and Begoulaki districts, at a distance of 4½ km southeast of the city center. These facilities are now used jointly by the two institutions, for their educational needs.
The University of Patras is ranked third among other Greek universities in terms of student staff, teaching, administrative and other staff, number of departments and degrees awarded. In addition, it has been recognized in the international community for its pioneering research in the fields of science such as Environment, Health, Biotechnology, Engineering, Electronics, Agriculture, Informatics and Basic Sciences, as well as in fields of the humanities and social sciences such as Dialectology, Philosophy, Pedagogical Sciences and Agricultural Sciences. Finally, a number of departments, laboratories and clinics have been recognized by international committees as Centers of Excellence.
Job opportunities
What will you buy
Patrina Turkish Delights, Mavrodafni, Tentura
Where are you going to eat?
Economic options
Middle class
High benefits
Where to go for coffee - drink
In Georgiou square, in Agios Nikolaos and in Riga Fereou, in the alleys of Hephaestus as well as in Vrachneika for drink and food by the sea, gazing at the unique sunset.
Where will you stay?
Economic options
Middle class
High benefits
Stay safe
Health and precautions
There are the following public hospitals in the city:
- General Hospital of Patras "O Agios Andreas"
- University General Hospital of Patras "Panagia i Voitheia" (Rio)
- Karamandaneio General Children's Hospital
Communications
Small problems
Geophysical feature of the area is its strong seismicity, which has been recorded since historical times and has caused frequent damage until recently and especially in June 2008 with an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 (7.1 according to the Geodynamic Institute of Italy) in Richter scale, in 1993 with a magnitude 5.0 earthquake centered near Patras and the 1995 Aegio earthquake. During antiquity the most famous example of seismic destruction in the area was the sinking of the Achaean city of Eliki.
Nearby destinations
Nafpaktos, Kalavrita (ski center), Ancient Olympia.
