Patra
Patra (Greek: Modern: Πάτρα, Ancient: Πάτραι,
Pátrai) is the third largest city of
Greece,
and also the capital of the
Achaea
region of Greece. Patra, or Patras, is located in the
southwest part of Greece in
Peloponnesos.
It is also the seat of the
Province of West Greece and Ionian
Islands. Patra has a
population of over 200,000 and is an important
commercial center and a busy port, with regular
car-ferry services to and from Italy. Distance from
Athens
is 215 km W, 94 km (old: 100 km) NE of Pyrgos, 7 km S of
Rio, 134 km slightly W of
Corinth,
77 km NW of
Kalavryta
and 144 km NW of
Tripoli.
Patra is a very old town with a history of more than
3,000 years. The ancient city of Patras was originally
formed by the unification of three
Mycenaean
villages:
Aroe,
Antheia
and
Mesatis.
After the
Dorian
invasion a group of
Achaeans
from
Laconia,
led by
Patreas,
established a colony and the city took its name from
their leader. During the ancient years, Patras remained
a farming region but during the Roman invasion it became
an important port.
Saint Andrew
came to Patras to preach
Christianity,
During the reign of Emperor
Nero.
He was sentenced to death by crucifixion and died as a
martyr. He is considered the protector of the city. A
large
byzantine-style
basilica
was built in the
1970s
in his honor, on the place of his crucifixion.
During
the
Byzantine
period Patras continued to be an important port as well
as an industrial center. Patras was invaded by the
Turks
in
1460.
The first period of Turkish rule (1460
-1687)
was a miserable one but from
1715
and on there was a revival of trade and so in the 18th
century it became a prosperous town again economically
based on agriculture and trade. Later Patras played an
active part in the Independence struggle against Turks
(1821).
The town
nowadays is divided into the Upper and Lower part with
broad flights of steps, as well as streets, giving
access between the two levels. The upper part is the
older and more picturesque but the lower part is
attractively laid out with plenty of squares notably the
square of Psila Alonia and Georgiou I square. There are
a lot of neoclassical buildings left like the theatre
"Apollon" in Georgiou I Square, the Town Hall, the
headquarters of the Local Trade Association and the
Justice Court
The most
interesting ancient monument in Patras is the Roman
Odeon, now reconstructed and used as an open-air theatre
for performances and concerts during the summer period.
Overlooking the whole town is a ruined Castle, a relic
of the Venetian invasion of the town (1687-1715).
In current times, its interior is laid out as a public
garden.
Patras
is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Greece.
It offers its resident a lot of facilities such as
shopping centers, picturesque cafes, pubs, discos,
restaurants as well as educational and cultural
facilities such as schools, colleges, a
university,
a library, two theatres and some galleries and cinemas.
Two state-funded hospitals exist in the city: Saint
Andreus, the oldest of the two is named after the city's
protector sant and it resides on the south side of the
city. The
University Hospital of Rio
is a university hospital, where med-students inter and
specialise in their major. It resides on the
north-eastern part of the city, inside the city's
Univerity Park, the pak
One of the
biggest tourist attractions of Patras, is the carnival
festival, held every year in February-March. It is one
of the most famous in the world coming just after Rio de
Janeiro and Venice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patra
Patras is the
capital of the Achaia Region. It owes its name to
Patreas, chief of the Achaians. The city is among the
most important in Greece, and the largest in the
Peloponnese. It is also a major transportation center,
linking the country with Italy and the Peloponnese with
the Ionian Islands.
The city
extends from the shore up to the Castle. It is divided
into two parts, the upper and the lower, whose layout,
parks and plazas give it a definite distinction. The old
city, at the foot of the castle, still has quite a
number of attractive neoclassical houses, while the
lower city has many mansions, such as those housing the
Municipal Theatre, the Odeon, etc. The Cathedral of St.
Andrew, the city's patron, rises majestically above the
lower city.
Patras' famous Carnival attracts thousands of visitors
every year. The city's innumerable pastry shops, its
quiet little cafes, its wide range of tavernas, its
lively streets bustling with locals, foreigners and
transient travelers complete the picture of Patras,
beautiful and celebrated throughout Greece.
http://www.greecebyclick.com/regions/peloponnese/patras/index.cfm
Vacancies
in Patra
patra01
The official website of the city
University of Patras
Technological Educational Institute Of Patras
Patras Tourist Info
traveljournals.net - Patras
GTP - Patras
GTP - Municipality of Patra/Patras
GTP - Ancient Patras
Indexmundi - Patras