 Patras is the capital city of the Prefecture of Achaia and of the Region of Western Greece. The region covers the North-Western part of Peloponnese and the Western part of the mainland and due to its geographical position is the transportation centre between the European Union and the East. Patras is a major port for Greece and the Mediterranean as a whole, and it is considered as the Greece's gate to the West. It is also the main commercial and administrative centre for Western Greece with rail and road links to Athens and other major cities.
The new Rio-Antirio bridge, the longest suspended bridge in the world links Patras with the coast of Western mainland and offers an impressive view from the Conference Centre.
Patras is a vibrant city with a population of around a quarter of a million. Very attractive and exciting, full of things to do, it successfully combines the advantages of a modern city with the charm of a city with a very long history. Its waterfront, beautiful squares and many traditional and neo-classical buildings captivate the visitor. In the surrounding area, unrivalled calm, vast and sandy beaches and enchanting shores, offer the delight of water and aquatic-sports, such as those offered by the Patras Yacht Club at the Marina. Along the very attractive coastline, there are many picturesque seaside villages with taverns, offering fresh fish and traditional dishes. The city has a range of hotels, restaurants, indoor and open-air cafeterias, late nightclubs with live music or just a good atmosphere, all within easy reach from the centre. In Patras, you can discover a wide choice of entertainment to suit your taste. The centre of the city is well served by excellent shops, department stores and many boutiques, all within easy reach. Many small stores are also found throughout the city.
 The possibilities of daily excursions are many and a variety of places near-by to visit, admire and enjoy, such as the islands of Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Ithaki, as well as many coastal resorts. The existence, within the proximity, of very important monuments of ancient times, most notably ancient Olympia, Delphi, Epidaurus, Mycenae, makes the region especially attractive. Also, connection with mainland of Greece is established by the newly built Rion-Antirion bridge, the longest cable stayed bridge in the world with a continuous deck of 2,250 meters.
 Patras is divided in Upper and Low City. The castle of the city rises on a lofty hill-extension of the Mount Panachaico. The castle was built most probably in the middle of the 6th century A.D., after the earthquake of 551 A.D., which stroke the region. In the outer side of the walls have been embodied marble beams, columns and other architectural parts deriving from ancient buildings. The Low City developed, after the independence, in the flat plain along the coast. Its centre is the square of George I, where the municipal theatre "Apollo" is built, work of Ernst Ziller (1872).
 The Saint Andrew church is located where an old Christian Basilica used to be which was maintained until the beginning of 18th century. The church was repaired by the Venetians around 1700 and was destroyed by the Muslim Albanians during the war of 1770. On its place the so-called "small church" was built in 1863, work of the architect Lyssandros Kavtantzoglou. Next to it the construction of the contemporary large church started in 1908. The church of Pantanassa in the Low City (1857 - 1859), work of Kavtantzoglou and Freariti, the Anglican church of Saint Andrew (1872) in the homonymous street, and the metropolitan church of the Annunciation in Maizonos Street, constitute characteristic ecclesiastical architectural works of the period. In the southeastern side of the Acropolis the Upper or Old Town is built rather disorderly. There the houses of prominent citizens of Patras existed, as well as the old municipal hospital, which was built according to the plans of the Danish architect Hansen and was founded by King Othon in 1857.
 Summers in Patras are hot and dry, but the Mediterranean sea offers a lot to do and enjoy. In the winter, the ski-centre in the town of Kalavryta, an excellent resort in the near mountains, attracts many tourists. The impressive mountains of Helmos and Erymanthos offer many opportunities for eco-tourism, climbing and other recreational activities. Extensive waters are suitable for the development of aquaculture. The region is an important agricultural area for all Greece and its vineyards produce the finest wine in the country.
For more details: http://www.patras.gr/ |
