Patras (ancient Greek: Πάτραι) is the largest city in the
Peloponnese and the third largest in Greece with a population of
167,446 inhabitants, while the population of the Kallikrat
Municipality of Patras amounts to 213,984 inhabitants according to
the official census of 2011. Patras is capital of the Regional Unit
of Achaia, of the Region of Western Greece, as well as seat of the
homonymous municipality, while it has also been designated seat of
the Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and
the Ionian.
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 both with 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.
Patra has many squares and green spaces in the center, the
neighborhoods and the surrounding suburbs. The most famous squares in
and around the center are:
George I Square
Vasilis Olga Square
Ypsilon Alonia Square
Three Allies Square
Agios Georgios Square
(Patras)
Three Admirals Square
Pantanassi Square
Markatou
Square
Eisodion Square
Eleftherias - Asia Minor Square
Marouda
Square
Niki Square
Kostí Palamas Square (Norman)
Papaflessa
Square
Voud Square
Omónia Square
Tambachanon Square (Filikon)
Pantokratoros Square
Agios Andreas Square
28th October Square
4th October Square
Fire Station
Vlaterou Square (Odyssea
Androutsou)
Papandreou Square
Agia Sophia Square
New Archaeological Museum of Patras: It focuses on the exhibition of
various archaeological finds, from the Mycenaean to the Late Roman era,
that were discovered in Patras and the wider region of Achaia. The
museum is housed in a modern and architecturally unique building
designed by the architect Theophanis Bobotis.
Museum of Asia Minor
Memory of Patras: The museum is located in the Prosfygika neighborhood
(Fokaias 26). It exhibits a photographic exhibition dedicated to the
Asia Minor people as well as maps of the Asia Minor region. It also
presents the refugee housing and the settlement of the Asia Minor people
in Patras.
Museum of Science and Technology (MST) of the University
of Patras: The museum was founded in 2001 and operates as a Laboratory
of the School of Sciences of the University. It is housed in a new
building located on the University grounds, under the Peace Park
restaurant and next to Foucault's pendulum.
Patras Press Museum: The
museum was founded in 1956 by the Association of Daily Newspaper Editors
of Peloponnese-Epirus-Ionian Islands based in Patras and has been
operating since mid-1957. It is located on Maizonos Street in the area
of Agios Andreas.
Patras Folk Art Museum: The museum was founded in
January 1977 and has been operating since that year. It belongs to the
Cultural Center of Patras and is under the supervision of the Ministry
of Culture.
Zoological Museum of the Department of Biology,
University of Patras: The museum was founded in 1968. Today it operates
under the supervision of the Department of Biology, and more
specifically the Department of Animal Biology. It is housed in the
Biology - Mathematics building of the University Campus, in Rio Patras.
Botanical Museum of the Department of Biology, University of Patras: The
museum was founded in 1973. Today it operates under the supervision of
the Department of Biology, and more specifically the Department of Plant
Biology. It is housed in the Biology - Mathematics building of the
University Campus, in Rio Patras. The Museum's collections (Herbarium)
include more than 100,000 dried plant specimens (from the 19th century
to the present day).
Rio-Antirrio Bridge: In 2004, the ambitious vision of connecting the
Rio-Antirrio Strait became a reality. The Rio-Antirrio Bridge is a
landmark in modern Greek history and, as a major construction project,
improved the daily lives of the inhabitants of the entire wider region,
contributing, among other things, to its economic development.
Mycenaean Tombs of Vounteni: The archaeological site of Vounteni, 8 km
from the center of Patras, is one of the most important sites of the
Mycenaean world, lasting almost five hundred years (1500-1000 BC), while
the site itself appears to have been inhabited from the Middle Ages to
the late Roman period (1800 BC – 4th AD).
Patras Cemetery: This Roman
monument dates back to between the end of the 1st century AD and the end
of the 2nd century AD. Shaped like a cross, like the Temple of Isis in
Pompeii, it is the only monument with this particular form found in
Patras.
Demeter's Spring: The current well of Agios Andreas next to
the old I. Temple, which was once a spring of the goddess Demeter that
also functioned as an oracle.
Roman Odeon: To the west of the
Acropolis in the Upper City is the ancient Odeon of Patras (160 BC),
older than the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (Herodion) in Athens.
Roman
Amphitheater (Stadium): Near the Ancient Odeon, on Ifaistou Street,
ruins of an amphitheater, probably from the 1st century AD, were
discovered. Together with the neighboring Ancient Odeon, they form a
single complex of great archaeological importance and value. Today, a
large part of the archaeological site is being excavated, between
Pantanassis, Ifaistou and Gerokostopoulou Streets.
Roman Aqueduct:
The first systematic aqueduct of Patras is located at the foot of the
Dassillio hill and is a work of Roman times.
Roman Nymphaeum:
Germanou 36-40 A monumental building from the 3rd century, a recreation
area with water jets and gardens. I. Vlachou 3 & Kanari Part of a large
complex, probably thermae. In early Byzantine times, the site was
probably used as a church and later as a cemetery.
Roman Bridge of
Meilichos (Pausanias Bridge): At the intersection of the N. National
Road with Aretha Street is a well-preserved Roman bridge with two brick
arches resting on elaborate bases of hewn stones.
The Castle of
Patras: The city's Castle is built on a low hill of Mount Panachaikos at
a distance of approximately 800 m. from the coast. It was built by
Justinian around 551 AD for the defense of the area and its inhabitants.
Hamam of Patras: The Baths - Hamam of Patras were built in the 16th
century during Venetian rule and were later preserved by the Turks for
whom the habit of hot baths was of particular importance. The hammams
have been operating since then and are among the oldest surviving, in
use, Turkish thermal baths in Europe.
Apollo Theater: Built in 1872
to designs by the great German architect and philhellene Ernest Ziller.
It is the oldest of the surviving indoor theaters of modern times in
Greece and perhaps the most impressive architectural gem of Patras.
Barry Warehouses: A complex of industrial architecture associated with
the city's heyday. It was used as a spinning, spinning, flour milling
and raisin processing factory. Today it operates as an arts center and
houses the Patras info center.
Old Municipal Hospital: Neoclassical
building by Danish architect Hans Christian Hansen which operated as a
hospital from 1872 to 1973. Today it operates as the Cultural Center of
Patras.
Municipal Slaughterhouses: Of particular architectural
interest, the stone buildings of the Municipal Slaughterhouses which
operated until 1998. Today, after work that has been carried out, the
space has been transformed into a large exhibition center for local
products and cultural events.
Statue of the Asia Minor resistance
fighter Captain Nikitas-Nikolaos Polykratis and the statue of Saint
Chrysostomos of Smyrna, in Eleftherias Square of Asia Minor in the
Prosfygika neighborhood.
Achaia Klaus: The Achaia Klaus Tower is the
first Greek winery built in 1861 and to this day produces some of the
most famous Greek wines. In its premises, the visitor can admire the
lush green environment, the historical buildings, the carved wooden
aging barrels from 1873 of the famous Mavrodaphne, as well as, in the
Daniilidos Cellar, to taste some of the winery's fine wines. In this
particular space, the oldest wine in Greece, the old Mavrodaphne from
1873, is also kept. Over the years, Achaia Klaus has been honored with
15 major awards, 51 gold medals, 38 silver medals and 32 diplomas.
Glafkos Hydroelectric Station (Glafkos Hydroelectric Station): The first
hydroelectric plant in Greece, operating since 1927 as a municipal
enterprise. Today it belongs to the Public Power Corporation, which has
created a museum of its history on the site of the station. It is
located in the homonymous area, Glafkos, 8 km. southeast of the center
of Patras.
The House of Kostis Palamas: A preserved neoclassical
building on 241 Korinthos Street in the center of the city, where Kostis
Palamas and the Italian prose writer Mathilde Serao were born. It is a
building of astonishing aesthetics and the creation of the museum there
realized the great vision of the Greek-Greek businessman Athanasios
Stefanopoulos, who bought the collapsing building on Korinthos Street to
create the "Kostis Palamas House of Letters".
Municipal Library: In
the center of Patras, next to the City Hall, is the neoclassical
building that houses the city's Municipal Library. The Library currently
has 120,000 volumes-books, as well as a large number of magazines,
historical documents, a photographic archive, etc. Also, in a special
section of the Library, valuable documents and books with signatures of
great historical figures are kept (e.g. Kostis Palamas, Yannis Ritsou,
Mussolini, etc.). The Library has a lending section for literary books
and a lending section for children's books on the ground floor of the
building.
Lighthouse of Patras: In the area of Ag. Andreas, the
modern lighthouse was built in 1999, which is a faithful copy of the old
one built in 1892, which was demolished in 1972. It is located on the
edge of the port area, next to the fish market in the area and opposite
the church of Agios Andreas. A cafeteria and an ouzo bar operate in this
area and are also used as a venue for events and concerts, while a park
has also been created in the area, thus constituting a recreation area
for the city.
ArtWalk is the only Street Art Festival of international scope in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, which is supported purely by civil society with measurable results. In an unprecedented way for the city, ArtWalk actively mobilizes citizens, creating a feeling of spiritual upliftment. The artists from all over the world participating in the festival give the local community hope and optimism for the future image of the city.
St. Andrew's Church: is a Christian basilica and, together with the
adjacent old church of St. Andrew, is an important place of pilgrimage
for Christians from all over the world. The church is dedicated to the
first-called apostle of Christ, St. Andrew. The construction of the
Byzantine-style church began in 1908 under the supervision of the
architect Anastasios Metaxas, who was followed by Georgios Nomikos. It
was inaugurated 66 years later, in 1974. On the central dome there is a
gilded cross 5 meters long, and on the other domes there are 12 smaller
crosses. These crosses symbolize Jesus and his Apostles. The interior of
the church is decorated with Byzantine-style frescoes and mosaics.
Church of Pantokrator in Patras: A historic church in the Upper Town of
Patras, built on the ruins of an ancient temple of Olympian Zeus from
around 900 BC. Of particular architectural interest are the domes of the
church, which are made of lead. The interior decoration of the church is
elaborate. It was the first cathedral of Patras, in the Byzantine style
and a copy of the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Holy Trinity
Church in Patras. According to historical evidence, the parish of the
Holy Trinity has existed in the city of Patras since the 17th century.
The first church was located near Papadiamantopoulou Square, that is,
today's Omonia Square, but was destroyed during the events of the
Revolution of 1821. According to the book of the donors of the church,
the current church began to be built around 1911, while the inauguration
was held on July 13, 1914 by Metropolitan Antonios of Patras. It has a
rich liturgical program. Daily in the mornings the Divine Liturgy is
celebrated and in the afternoon Vespers, prayers, etc. as well as every
Wednesday and Saturday a Holy Vigil is celebrated. As for the pastoral
part, there are catechetical schools, Bible study circles, a School of
Hagiography and Byzantine music, preparation of the Prosphorus, etc. In
terms of social contribution, the parish charity fund operates equally
with the parish soup kitchen “Stegi Agapis” and voluntary blood donation
twice a year!
Girokomeio Monastery (Monastery of Panagia
Girokomitissa): This historic monastery was founded in the 10th century
AD in the Girokomeio area in the eastern part of Patras. It was built on
the ruins of the Ancient Temple of the goddess Artemis and for this
reason the katholikon of the Monastery is dedicated to Saint Artemios.
It is obvious that the Monastery maintained a nursing home during the
Byzantine period.
Monastery of Saint Nicholas Bala
Patras-Palaiomonastiro: It is built at the foot of Panachaikos, at an
altitude of approximately 350 m, near the village of Bala, 8 km.
northeast of Patras. This historic and picturesque monastery was founded
in the late 6th - early 7th centuries, but was destroyed many times
until 1945. A marble slab on the northern outer side of the Katholikon
tells the story of the monastery's re-establishment in 1693. In the
early 19th century, the ruined monastery - which according to tradition
was destroyed by the Turks in the 18th century - was annexed as a metohi
to the Girokomeio Monastery under the name "Palaiomonastiro" or
Monastery of Saint Nicholas Bala and remained a metohi until 1925. On
17/1/1943, it received for safekeeping the relics of the Girokomeio
Monastery, which the Germans had temporarily used as an ammunition
depot. The monastery has recently been renovated, has nineteen nuns and
celebrates on December 6 and May 10.
The tomb of Saint Gervasios of
Patras, located behind the Church of Saint Paraskevi in Sychena,
Patras. His sainthood was proclaimed on 16/11/2023 by the Ecumenical
Patriarchate following a documented proposal from the Church of Greece,
which was compiled and submitted by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras.
Patras has several parks of various types and sizes, the most famous
of which are:
Rigopoulos Grove (Girokomio)
Dasillio
Skagiopouliou Garden
South Park
North Park
Castle Park
Agios
Alexios Park
Red Mill Park
Agia's Swamp (Plaz Park)
Faros Park
Terpsithea Park
Carnival is celebrated in a big way here. The core event is two large parades with up to 150 groups. On Sunday, there is the "big" carnival procession, and the next day there is a "night parade," which is hardly less elaborate.
By plane
Araxos Airport (Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Αράξου, IATA: GPA),
approx. 46km southwest of Patras. Military airfield that handles around
20 flights per week. Mostly charter flights in summer. Don't expect any
facilities. The KTEL bus timetable from Patras is set for 2.5 hours
before departure and costs €4 in 2019.--infoedit
By train
The
narrow-gauge railway network leads in the direction of Corinth-Athens
and Pyrgos-Kalamata. To Athens: From the train station (Stathmos Patras)
the train bus goes to Kiato. There you change to the train to Athens.
The train station in Athens is next to the Larissis metro station. The
metro takes you to the city center of Athens.
By bus
The
central KTEL bus station in Patras is in the city center, Zaimi corner
Othonos kai Amalias near the train station. Buses to Athens and the rest
of the peninsula. Since the construction of the bridge near Rio, also to
the north.
By road
Only accessible by land via the Balkans
with difficulty. Better via Italy and then by ferry. "Motorways" lead to
Corinth-Athens and to the south. The mainland in the north can now be
reached much more quickly thanks to the construction of the Rio-Antirrio
bridge (fees apply).
By ship
There are various ferry
connections from Italy, including from Bari, Brindisi, Ancona (approx.
20 hours) and Venice. They dock in the new port. There is a bus
connection to the city center, to the bus station, line 118 (1.20 €).
The "old port" directly in front of the old town and train station
is a pier for domestic Greek ferries. From here, Levante Ferries serves
Sami on Kefalonia (3 hours) and Pisaethos on Íthaka (just under 4
hours).
It is best to go on foot or by bus. The traffic itself is no longer
as chaotic as it used to be since the opening of the bypass motorway,
but it still takes some getting used to for Central Europeans.
The best place to park is in the port. It is not a problem to drive into
the port area. In the city center, if you park illegally, the police can
unscrew your license plate (with the corresponding effort to get it
back).
The regional train connections have been greatly improved.
The S-Bahn line, which now runs hourly between 6:30 a.m. and 11 p.m., is
split into two parts:
Kato - Rio (Ρίο) - Ag. Andreas (Αγ.
Ανδρέας)
Kaminia (Καμίνια) - Patras (old port) - Ag. Andreas.
Rail buses run as feeder lines on this section: Patras - Kiato, where
there is a rail connection to Athens; Kastellokampos - Panepistmiao Uni
- Noskomeio Hospital.
A zone tariff applies. A single trip costs
€ 1.40 for 1 zone, € 2 for 2 and € 2.50 for 3 zones (including feeder
buses). (As of May 2023)
Business hours 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m., but for non-food only on Monday mornings or until 5.00 p.m., sometimes also closed on Wednesday afternoons.
Restaurant "molos", simple dishes, located on the pier (extension of Agiou Nikolaou street)
The high season in Patras also includes carnival, when room prices
can double.
Average
1 Pension Nikos (Ενοικιαζόμενα Δωμάτια
Νίκος), Patreos 3, Patras. Tel.: +302610623757. For 33 euros you can get
a double room with a shower in the hallway. (Ask at the tourist office
for directions). Feature: Pension.
2 Airotel Achaia Beach, Milou 44,
Patra, located right on the beach. Tel.: +30 261 099 1801. The hotel has
its own swimming pool and sunbathing area. The breakfast buffet is very
good. You can also sit on the terrace for breakfast. The Achaia Beach
Hotel also offers lunch and dinner. It is not expensive and really
excellent! The house wine is recommended! Price: from €50.
Adonis
City Hotel, Zaimi 7 & Kapsali 9. Tel.: +30 2610 224213, email:
scale707@gmail.com. The hotel is next to the bus station. Simple
furnishings. Single room approx. €65 - the room can also be rented as a
double room.
3 Hotel El Greco, Agiou Andreou 153-141. Well-kept 2*
hotel, with air conditioning and a small refrigerator in the room. Slow
WiFi, but desktop PC in the lobby. Decent price/performance ratio. On
the edge of the city center. Price: €30 per person, breakfast extra.
Drivers are often advised to check their vehicles for damage or hidden persons before boarding ferries.
The area of Patras appears to have been inhabited in many parts since prehistoric times with significant settlements, although poorly excavated, being recorded as early as the 3rd millennium BC. During the Mycenaean period, Patras appears to have flourished significantly and to have been one of the most important cities of the Mycenaean world, judging by the extensive cemetery with 78 large vaulted tombs, found in the Mycenaean Park of Vounteni (1500-1000 BC), a suburb approximately 7 km from the historic center of modern Patras.
Ancient Patras had Aroi as its core. Patreus, an Achaean from Sparta,
because he did not want to suffer the consequences of the conquest of
his city by the Dorians, came as a colonist (settler) to the region of
Aroi and managed to expel its Ionian inhabitants. He expanded and
fortified the city, he even managed to politically unite seven
Prehistoric rural settlements and gave it his name. Built in a strategic
position, by the sea with its back covered by the Panachaikos mountain
and a short distance from the coast of Aetolia-Acarnania, very close to
the Ionian islands and on the road to Italy, Patras was endowed with all
the conditions to play an important role in history. During the
Peloponnesian War we find it sometimes on the side of the Athenians and
sometimes of the Peloponnesians. However, the end of the war finds it on
the side of the victors.
Patras made a significant contribution
to the formation of the Achaean League (280 BC). It was the revival of
the Achaean federation, "The Common of the Achaeans". The cities of
Patras, Dymi, Aegio, Voura, Pharae, Tritaia, Pellini, Aegira, Leontio
and Kyrenia founded the League. Its operation was based on institutions
of equality and democracy.
Patras came under the rule of Rome in
146 BC. Augustus had recognized (31 BC) the privileged and timely
position of Patras and ensured that veteran Romans settled here as
colonists. From then on, only the Patranians (out of all the Achaeans)
were granted the freedom and self-government that the Romans could enjoy
as colonists.
The Roman emperors Tiberius, Nero and Hadrian, as
well as others, granted privileges to Patras from time to time, which
quickly transformed into a glorious and well-known city. During the 2nd
century AD, Patras was at its peak, when the traveler Pausanias visited
it. At that time, it extended to the south and southwest of the
acropolis and was adorned with many sanctuaries and other buildings.
Some of these are described by the traveler in his work Achaikas.
The presence and activity of the Apostle Andrew in the city during
the time of Nero gives it a new character. It transforms it into a field
of conflict of various religious deviations until the final spread and
dominance of Christianity.
A silver half-drachm from the era of the 2nd - 1st centuries BC. depicts the head of Aphrodite in right profile. The reverse bears the letters ΔΑ MACIC surrounded by a laurel wreath. It has a diameter of 17 mm and weighs 2.04 g.
With the transfer of the capital of the Roman state to Constantinople, 330 AD, Patras gradually began to decline. In 807 AD, the city was besieged by the Slavs and Avars, who failed to capture it. Their defeat - which the residents attributed to a miracle of Saint Andrew - forced the Slavs to abandon the Peloponnese, while some small groups settled in the mountainous hinterland of Achaia. In the following centuries, silk production and trade developed in the city until 1205, when it fell into the hands of the Frankish crusaders of Constantinople and became one of the 12 Baronies of the Principality of Achaia, the Barony of Patras. In 1429, it was liberated by the troops of the Despot of Mystras and later emperor, Constantine Palaiologos. In 1458, it was occupied by the Ottomans.
The first revolutionary movement against the Turks took place in 1466
under the bishop of Patras Neophytos. The second took place in 1532 with
the help of the Spanish fleet under the leadership of Andreas Doria. The
third uprising took place in October 1571, after the naval battle of
Nafpaktos. Then the city revolted against the Turks, as did other
regions of Central Greece and the Peloponnese. The leaders of the
uprising were the bishop of Paleon Patras Germanos I, the notables
Demetrios (nephew of Germanos), Sofianos, Stamatis and Karagiannis,
perhaps the timari of the region Ioannis Tsernotampeis and the abbot of
the Monastery of Archangel Michael Isaac and others. There had already
been unrest throughout the Peloponnese since the previous year when the
Turks had carried out extensive looting, destroyed churches and
monasteries, and tortured monks in order to raise funds for the campaign
against Cyprus. The victory of the Christian fleet at Nafpaktos, in
which many Greeks also participated, and the hopes for help from the
Holy Alliance led to a spontaneous uprising in the Peloponnese but also
in more distant areas of Greece such as Mount Athos, Pelion and
Chalkidiki. As soon as the destruction of the Ottoman fleet at Nafpaktos
became known in Patras, the event was celebrated with doxologies and
joyful events. Metropolitan Germanos I came to an understanding with
five prelates and residents of neighboring areas of the Peloponnese and
the mainland to prepare the uprising. On the coast of the Patraikos,
Turks arriving from their destroyed fleet were being pursued and
slaughtered. The betrayal of the movement by an Egyptian, the inability
of the Christian fleet to transfer the war to land and the numerical
superiority of the Turks led to the rapid suppression of the rebellion.
Bishop Germanos was killed and dismembered together with his nephew. The
same happened to the prominent Sofianos from Patras, Petropoulos from
Mystras and other clergy, monks and laity. The city of Patras was
destroyed so much that a traveler of the time describes it as completely
deserted.
In 1687, the Venetians besieged Patras again and held
it, along with almost the entire Peloponnese, until 1715. The city was
devastated by the Turks and Albanians during the Orlovian Revolt in
1770. In 1770, Parthenios V of Old Patras actively participated in the
revolutionary actions in Vostitsa, Patras and Kalavryta. He collaborated
with other dignitaries and clergy, such as the bishop of Methoni
Anthimos, the bishop of Koroni Makarios, the bishop of Corinth Makarios
(Notaras) and the provost of Patras Ioannis Poulos. After the failure of
the uprising, Parthenios V of Old Patras fled first to Zakynthos and
then to Russia in self-exile, because he was a fugitive from the Ottoman
Empire. On March 25, 1821, the Greek Revolution was declared in Patras
by the Despot of Old Patras Germanos (III) and the nobles of Achaia, who
began to besiege the city's castle (see details in the article Uprising
of Patras). The city experienced many sieges by the Greek revolutionary
troops and many battles took place in the wider area, but its castle was
difficult to capture. In 1828, the French marshal Nicolas-Joseph Maison
occupied the city with French troops, expelling the Turkish-Egyptian
garrison of Ibrahim and surrendering the city to the newly established
Greek Government. During the revolutionary struggle, it was almost
completely destroyed. The modern city was built by Ioannis Kapodistrias
on the site of the ancient city, to a design by Stamatios Voulgaris
(1829). According to some, the first design of the modern city was by
the Dutch architect Samburg and his assistant, the Italian Nicolo
Ceroulli (1829-1830).
After the liberation, Patras experienced moments of rapid and great
growth, thanks to the extroversion of its commercial world and its
bustling port, which became the center of the export trade of the newly
established Greek state to the West. In 1881, Patras was the source of
30% of Greek exports, followed by Zakynthos with 13%. With raisins as
its main export product, as well as wine and other agricultural
products, families from all over Western Europe gradually settled in the
city, building magnificent houses in its center, as well as impressive
country houses that have survived to this day in its suburbs. The
dominant role in the 19th century was played by, among others, the
Italian community, the Austrian community and the British community, as
well as the large Jewish community. Due to these relations, as well as
Patras' ties with the West, Patras remains even today a metropolitan
area with residents of various ethnicities from Western European
countries, while the Catholic Church of St. Andrew (which continues its
operation) and the Anglican Church (no longer functioning as a church)
remain, as well as the numerous consulates of Western European countries
(England, Italy, Austria, Spain, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Switzerland,
Germany, France). Luxurious residences gradually adorn the Upper Town
(urban fabric of old families) and the Lower Town (urban fabric of
merchants), while neighborhoods are created peripherally to the historic
center by immigrants from the Ionian islands (Zante, Kefalonia) and the
surrounding prefectures (Ilia, Messinia, Aitoloakarnania). The
population increases quickly, as did its needs, and innovation
flourished, with Patras being the first in Greece to acquire fixed-track
urban public transport (trams) in 1902 with two lines, but their
operation was interrupted during World War I due to a lack of coal. As
early as 1909, electricity production plants were created in Patras,
while in 1922 the first hydroelectric plant in Greece was built on the
Glafkos River. Many factories and crafts are created in the city,
including Achaia Clauss (the oldest winery in operation in Greece),
Periaiki Patraiki, Mamos Brewery, Aeriofotos Factory, Distillery
"Dimitra", Spiliopoulos Winery, Adelfoi Chrysanthakopouloi Distillery,
Spilioti Distillery, Prapopoulos Metallurgy, Kongou Yarn Mill, as well
as many spinning mills, yarn mills, clothing & footwear crafts, flour
mills, acaron mills, cork mills, tanneries, metallurgy, confectionery
products, clay mills, olive mills, etc.
At the same time,
impressive educational and cultural development of the city was
observed, with the publication of newspapers, magazines, literary
pamphlets, the operation of theoretical and practical schools, etc.
After the Asia Minor Catastrophe, many families of Greeks from Asia
Minor settled in Patras, arriving as refugees at the city's port.
Initially, they were housed in schools and raisin warehouses. In 1926,
the construction of the first three refugee settlements, the Patras
Refugee Settlements, began. The church of Agia Fotini was built by the
Asia Minor refugees in memory of the homonymous church that was located
in Smyrna. In 1925, the Refugee Stadium, one of the oldest stadiums in
Greece, was also built next to Agia Fotini. The Asia Minors as a whole
enriched the society and culture of the region.
Modern era
Patras today is a modern large city with significant industrial and
commercial activity, while its port is one of the most important in
Greece and is the main gateway to the West. However, the economic crisis
from 2011 onwards greatly affected the economic identity of the city
with many crafts closing and the unemployment rate increasing
significantly.
Its contribution to the scientific and cultural
life of the country is also significant, with the University of Patras,
the Technical and Vocational Institute, the Open University, its famous
Carnival, the International Festival of Patras, the International Street
Art Festival of Patras - ArtWalk, etc.
Patras is located on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. It
extends from the western slopes of Mount Panachaikos (max. altitude:
1,928 meters) to the shores of the Gulf of Patras, which is essentially
an inlet of the Ionian Sea.
A central feature of the urban
geography of central Patras is its division into the Upper and Lower
Towns, connected by stairs. This is the result of an interaction between
the physical geography of the area and the pattern of human settlement.
The Lower Town, which includes the 19th century urban core and the port,
is located next to the sea and spreads together with the districts
between the mouths of the Glafkos and Charadros rivers and is built on
an originally riverine and marshy terrain, while the Upper Town covers
the area of the older settlements, around the fortress and more
widely, on the westernmost ends of the Panachaikos mountain before the
Gulf of Patras.
The largest river in the area is the Glafkos
which flows south of Patras and originates from the southern part of the
Panachaikos. Its waters have been collected since 1925 in a small
mountain reservoir near the village of Souli and are 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 gardens of Eglikada and for the water
supply of the city. Other rivers or streams are the Charadros, the
Meilichos and the rapid Diakoniaris torrent. Of great importance for the
biodiversity of the area and for the preservation of its climate is the
Agia Marsh, a small and coastal aquatic ecosystem, only 30 hectares,
located north of the city center. The main characteristics of this
wetland are the obvious rarity of its survival in the heart of a densely
populated urban area, with a relatively dry climate and the considered
high level of biodiversity with over 90 species of birds having been
observed in the area since the early 1990s, according to a study by the
Patras office of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (H.O.S.).
A geophysical characteristic of the region is its intense seismicity, which has been recorded since historical times and has caused frequent disasters until recently, and in particular in June 2008 with an earthquake measuring 6.5 (7.1 according to the Italian Geodynamic Institute) on the Richter scale, in 1993 with an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale with its epicenter near Patras, and the 1995 Aegion earthquake. The Rio-Antirio Strait also exhibits intense seismicity, while the neighboring Ionian Islands have been frequently hit by strong earthquakes. During antiquity, the most famous example of seismic disaster in the region was the sinking of the Achaean city of Helikon.
Patras has a Mediterranean climate with mild and wet winters and hot, dry summers, with some rainfall (mainly local showers) during this period. The highest temperature ever recorded in the city is 41.3 °C while the lowest is −4.5 °C.
As a port city, grapes, raisins and wine were transshipped in Patras. In this context, distilleries that produce liqueurs and spirits were established in the 19th century. The liqueur Tentoura and the liqueur wine Mavrodaphne are well known. Drinks from the lemonade factory Loux have cult status.
Patras has a direct connection to the Greek highway network. National
Road 8a (European Route 65) towards Athens leads out of Patras in the
east. It has now been partially expanded to become Motorway 8. The
second crossing point east of Patras connects western and northwestern
Greece via the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge using National Road 5 and, in
the future, Motorway 5 (Ionia Odos). A bypass motorway runs around
Patras in a southwesterly direction and continues as National Road 9
(European Route 55). The route from Patras along the west coast of the
Peloponnese will in the future be expanded to become the southern part
of Motorway 5 (Olympia Odos).
KTEL-Patras (ΑΣΤΙΚΟ ΚΤΕΛ ΠΑΤΡΩΝ ΑΕ)
city buses have been operating in Patras since 1952. The 107 blue and
white buses serve twelve routes and have been privately operated since
2008. From Athens, the KTEL long-distance buses are currently the
fastest connection to Patras, but this will change after the new railway
line to Patras is completed.
The Patras tram operated from 1902 to 1917.
Patras had a
railway connection since the end of the 19th century via the meter-gauge
railway lines of the Sidirodromi Pireos–Athinon–Peloponnissou: with the
Piraeus–Patras railway line in the direction of Corinth and Athens. This
was extended to the southern Peloponnese with the Patras–Zevgolatio
railway line. There was also a ferry connection to Kryoneri on the
opposite bank of the Gulf of Corinth to the Greek Northwest Railway. All
of the lines - except for a few sections - were abandoned between 1971
and 2011. A suburban train, operated by Proastiakos, runs on a remaining
section of the line every hour between Agios Andreas and Rio.
The
line to Athens is being replaced by a standard gauge one. The conversion
was originally supposed to have been completed in 2010, but is still not
finished.
In 1997, the construction of a new port about 3 km south of the existing port was decided. The new port was officially opened on July 11, 2011. It is (along with Igoumenitsa) a gateway for road traffic in Greece to the rest of the EU. Most car ferries from Italy arrive in Patras.
Although the city does not have its own airport, Araxos Airport, located about 40 km southwest of Patras, actually serves as the city's airport. This is mostly used seasonally by charter flights in the summer.
Patras is the seat of a Greek Orthodox metropolitan (see Church of
Greece). There have been Roman Catholics since the time of the
Crusaders. Most Catholics are either descendants of Italians who
emigrated to Greece after Garibaldi's failure, or come from the Ionian
Islands. Their descendants, however, are completely assimilated. Since
the 19th century there has also been a small Anglican community.
The Franciscans manage the Roman Catholic church of St. Andrew in
Patras.
Patras suffered from deindustrialization in the 1990s. Industrial production fell by 7.5% between 1995 and 2001,[9] partly due to the bankruptcy of the once large textile manufacturer Piraiki Patraiki in 1996. While textile and food production in the Patras region continues to decline, mechanical engineering is experiencing an upturn. Ideal Bikes' bicycles are well known across the region. IT companies and research centers have settled in the Patras Science Park, which is located near the university.
The city is a relatively young science and education location. There is the University of Patras and the University of Applied Sciences (TEI Patras), founded in 1972, as well as the Hellenic Open University and the 19th Greek State University. Private investments include the Patras Science Park and the Business Innovation Center Western Greece.