Patras (Demotic Greek: Πάτρα,
Pátra, , Classical Greek:
Πάτραι, Pátrai, ) is Greece
's third
largest urban centre and the capital of the prefecture of Achaea
, located in
northern Peloponnese
, 215 kilometers west of Athens
.
The city
is built at the foothills of Mount Panachaikon, overlooking the Gulf of Patras
.
The Patras metropolitan area is a conurbation of 222,460
inhabitants. The core settlement has a history spanning four
millennia.
In the Roman period it had become a
cosmopolitan centre of the eastern Mediterranean
whilst, according to Christian tradition, it was
also the place of Saint Andrew's
martyrdom. Dubbed Greece's
Gate to the West, Patras is a commercial hub, while its
busy port is a nodal point for trade and communication with
Italy
and the rest of Western
Europe. The city has two public universities and one
Technological Institute, hosting a large student population and
rendering Patras a major scientific centre with a field of
excellence in technological education.
The Rio-Antirio
bridge
connects Patras' easternmost suburb of Rio to the
town of Antirrio, connecting the Peloponnese
peninsula with mainland Greece. Every
spring, the city hosts one of Europe's largest and most colourful
carnivals; notable features of the
Patras Carnival include its mammoth-sized
satirical floats and extravagant balls and parades, enjoyed by
hundreds of thousands of visitors in a pleasant
Mediterranean climate, with relatively
cool yet humid summers and rather mild winters. Patras is also
famous for supporting an indigenous cultural scene active mainly in
the performing arts and modern urban literature; it was
European Capital of Culture
2006.
Geography and climate
Satellite view of Patras.
Patras is
located west of Athens by road, northeast of Pyrgos
, south of Rio
, west of
Corinth
, 77
kilometers northwest of Kalavryta
, and northwest of Tripoli
.
A central feature of the
urban
geography of Patras is its division in upper and lower
sections, connected with stairs. This is the result of an interplay
between natural geography and human settlement patterns; the lower
section of the city, which includes the 19th century urban core and
the port, is adjacent to the sea and stretches between the
estuaries of the rivers of Glafkos and Haradros. It is built on
what was originally a bed of river soils and dried-up swamps. The
older upper section covers the area of the pre-modern settlement,
around the Fortress, on what is the last elevation of Mount
Panachaikon ( ) before the Gulf of Patras.
The largest river in the area is
Glafkos
flowing to the south of Patras. Glafkos springs in Mount
Panachaikon and its water is, since 1925,
collected in a small mountainous reservoir-dam near the village of
Souli and subsequently pumped in order to provide energy for the
country's first
hydroelectric
plant. The water is also used for the orchards of Eglykas and
as drinking water for the city. Other rivers are
Haradros,
Meilichos and the mountain torrent
Diakoniaris.
Of great importance for the biological diversity of the area and
the preservation of its climate is the swamp of
Agyia, a small and coastal
aquatic ecosystem of only 30 hectares,
located to the north of the city centre. The main features of this
wetland are its apparent survival difficulty, being at the heart of
a densely populated urban centre that features a relatively arid
climate and its admittedly high level of biodiversity, with over 90
species of birds being observed until the early 1990s, according to
a study by the Patras Bureau of the
Hellenic Ornithological
Society.
Another geophysical characteristic of the region is its high level
of
seismicity. Small tremors are recorded
along the coast of Patras almost constantly. Larger earthquakes hit
the area every few years with potentially destructive effects. In
1993, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake caused some damage to several
(mostly older) buildings throughout Patras due to the proximity of
the epicenter to the city.
In June 15, 1995, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake
hit the nearby town of Aigion
, causing
some structural damage to a few buildings of Patras as well.
The Ionian Islands are also frequently hit by even more severe
earthquakes, some of which can be felt in the city.
In antiquity, the most
notable example of destruction caused by an earthquake in the
region was the total submergence of the ancient Achaean city of
Helike
, now Eliki
.
History
Patras' Roman Odeum
The central square of Patras in the
past century
The first traces of settlement in Patras date as early as in the
3rd millennium BC, in the area of modern Aroe. Patras flourished
for the first time during the Post-Helladic or
Mycenean period (1580–1100 BC).
Ancient
Patras was formed by the unification of three Mycenaean villages located in modern Aroe;
namely Antheia and Mesatis
.
Mythology
has it that after the Dorian invasion, a
group of Achaeans from Laconia
led by the eponymous Patreus established a colony. During
antiquity, Patras remained a farming city. It would be in Roman
times that it was to become an important port.
After 280 BC and prior to the Roman occupation of Greece, Patras
played a significant role in the foundation of the second "
Achaean League" (Achaiki Sympoliteia), along
with the cities of Dyme, Triteia and Pharai. Later on, and
following the Roman occupation of Greece in 146 BC, Patras played a
key role, and
Augustus founded a Roman
colony in its area. Moreover, Patras became a Christian centre
since the early days of Christianity, and it is the city where St.
Andrew was crucified.
During
Byzantine times Patras
continued to be an important port as well as an industrial centre.
One of the most scholarly philosophers and theologians of the time,
Arethas of Caesarea was born at
Patrae, at around 860. By the 9th century there are strong signs
the city was prosperous: the widow
Danielis
from Patras had accumulated immense wealth in land ownership, the
carpet and textile industry, and offered critical support in the
ascent of
Basil I the
Macedonian to the Byzantine throne.
In 1204 Patras was conquered by the
Fourth Crusade, and became the seat of the
Latin
Duchy of Athens within the
Principality of Achaea.
Captured
in 1205 by William of
Champlitte and Villehardouin, the
city became a part of the principality of Achaea, and its
archbishop primate of the principality while in 1387 Juan Fernández de Heredia,
grand
master of the order of the Knights Hospitaller at Rhodes
, endeavoured
to make himself master of Achaea and took Patras by storm.
In 1408,
Patras became Venetian
, and by the close of the 15th century the city was
governed by the archbishop in the name of the pope. It was nevertheless seized once more by
the
despot Constantine in 1430, who was immediately
contested by the
Ottoman
Empire.
In 1458 Patras was conquered by the Sultan of the
Ottoman Empire,
Mehmet
II. Under the Ottomans, it was known as Baliabadra, from the
Greek Παλαιά Πάτρα, the town, as opposed to Νέα Πάτρα, the
fortress. Though Mehmet granted the city special privileges and tax
reductions, it never became a major centre of commerce.
Venice
and Genoa
attacked and
captured it several times during the 15th and 16th centuries, but
never re-established their rule effectively. It was here
that the
Greek Revolution began;
but the Turks, confined to the citadel, held out until 1828.
Patras was liberated on 7 October, 1828 by the French expeditionary
force in the Peloponnese, under the command of
General Maison. Patras developed
quickly into the second largest urban centre in late 19th century
Greece. The city benefited from its role as the main export port
for the agricultural produce of the Peloponnese.
In the early 20th century, Patras developed fast and became the
first Greek city to introduce public streetlights and electrified
tramways.
The war effort necessitated by the first World War hampered the city's
development and also created uncontrollable urban sprawl with the influx of refugees from
Asia
Minor
. During the Second World War, the city was a
major target of Italian
air raids; during
the period of Axis occupation, a German military command was
established and German and Italian troops stationed in the
city.
Urban landscape
Patras' western seafront.
The city is divided into the upper and the lower sections,
connected with roads and broad stairs. The upper section is the
older and the more picturesque; however, the lower sections are
attractively laid out, featuring a variety of squares in a unique
geometric pattern. The most notable of these are the
Psila
Alonia and the
Georgiou I . A number of exquisite
neoclassical buildings are to be found, including the
"Apollon" Theatre in Georgiou I Square, the Town
Hall, the headquarters of the Local Trade Association
and the Court of Justice.
View of the city from the stairs of
Agios Nikolaos street
The most significant ancient monument, open to the public, is the
Roman Odeon, now reconstructed and in use as an open-air
theatre used for performances and concerts during the summer
months. Overlooking the whole town is the ruined
Castle,
whose current outline dates back to the Venetian invasion of the
town (1687-1715). Today, its interior is used as a public
garden.
Near the seafront, between the sites of the new and the old port,
stands the monumental church of Saint Andrew, the patron Saint of
the city and the largest church of Greece. A replica of the city's
emblematic old lighthouse, built as a part of a coastline
beautification project, rises at a nearby park. In general, much of
Patras' coastline is framed by roads and avenues running alongside;
these include
Dymaion Coast to the south and
Iroon
Polytechneiou Road to the north. Unfortunately, due to
insufficient urban planning as well as institutional weaknesses on
behalf of the City Council (mainly due to a lack of proper
financial planning), some of the city's coastal areas are not in an
ideal condition, with several areas illegally occupied by shops
built along the coastline. This is contrary to what the
Constitution of Greece of 2001
declares; that the Greek coastline is a "national treasure", and as
such belongs to the Greek people.
Architecture
Kolokotroni street in central
Patras
The city is endowed with a number of
neoclassical buildings and mansions dating
from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the past, years of
neglect and the absence of protection enforcement, as well as
recent earthquakes had contributed to the destruction of several
such examples. Today, however, most surviving neoclassical
buildings are under a strict protection status. The project for the
restoration of the city's architectural heritage is part of the
2006 Cultural Capital bid. Several
laikê
(produce markets) take place across the city's neighborhoods on
weekdays, and on Saturdays.
Landmarks
The Achaia region is home to 4 museums, including the Patras
Archaeological Museum and the Museum for the Sacrifice of the
people of Kalavrita. The
Achaia Clauss
wine tasting center is located on the outskirts in Petroto village.
It was
founded in 1861 by the Bavarian
Gustav Clauss and is most famous for its Mavrodaphne. The winery is the main
sponsor of the local basketball team,
Apollon Achaia Clauss.
The region is also home to various Ancient Greek and Byzantine
Monuments, including the Roman Odeum, the Castle of Rio and the
Fortress of Patras.
Psilalonia Square
Psilalonia Square ( or more formally Πλατεία
Υψηλών Αλωνίων) is one of Patras's most popular squares. The square
is located 1.5 km from downtown Patras, next to the city's
main north-south street,
Gounari
Street.
The square features a fountain in the middle and until the 1950s
with sidewalks. Trees surround the square and it features a grassy
field,
palm trees, a playground. A bronze
statue of
Germanos of Patras
stands on the northern end, while a memorial plaque to people
executed during the
Axis
occupation of Greece stands on the south-western corner.
Several shops, chiefly restaurants and cafes, surround the
square.
The square features
modernistic
buildings around and it had red shingles with arches. It was
completed in the mid to late-19th century when the population
boomed. Trees were added along with neoclassical buildings. After
World War II and the
Greek Civil War however, and through the
1960s and 1970s, most neoclassical buildings were replaced by
eight-story residential buildings. Restaurants were added in the
1980s.
In the
west end, a 15 m tall cliff overlooks the Trion Navarchon pedestrian street, and
offers a wide vista across the western Corinthian Gulf
, including the Arakynthos
mountains and the mountains of Aitoloakarnania and Fokida
. The
Panachaiko and the mountains to the
southeast including
Omplos are also visible
from the square.
City plan
The first city plan of Patras,
1829
Patras is the first city of the modern Greek state to develop a
city plan. In January 1829,
Stamatis
Voulgaris, a Greek engineer of the French army, presented the
plan of the new city of Patras to the Governor
Kapodistrias, who approved it. Voulgaris
applied the orthogonal rule in the urban complex of Patras. The
plan was divided into two sectors, the upper and the lower city,
with a different city block layout; a revision of the proposal in
1858 was that finally realised.
Neighbourhoods and districts
Patras city districts
Suburbs
Nowadays,
the municipalities of Rio and Antirrio
have functionally become a part of the wider urban
complex of Patras, other suburbs are:
Demographics
The urban
area of Patras includes the towns of Rion
(12,674),
Paralia
(9,153), Vrachneika
(4,805) and Messatida
(12,246), comprising 18,5% of the urban
population.
| Historical Population |
| Year |
Patras |
Urban Area
|
| 1853 |
15,854 |
19,499 |
| 1861 |
18,342 |
23,020 |
| 1870 |
16,641 |
26,190 |
| 1879 |
25,494 |
34,227 |
| 1889 |
33,529 |
44,970 |
| 1896 |
37,985 |
51,932 |
| 1907 |
37,728 |
- |
| 1920 |
52,174 |
- |
| 1928 |
61,278 |
- |
| 1951 |
87,570 |
94,192 |
| 1961 |
96,100 |
103,985 |
| 1971 |
112,228 |
120,847 |
| 1981 |
142,163 |
154,596 |
| 1991 |
161,782 |
190,463 |
| 2001 |
171,616 |
210,494 |
| 2007 (est.) |
180,000 |
230,000 |
Population of Patras (dark blue) and
the urban area of Patras (blue) from 1853 to 2007.
Government
Patras is
the regional capital of Western Greece
and the capital of the Achaea prefecture
(the 5th most populous
prefecture of Greece). The city is going to be the capital of
one of the newly proposed regions of Greece, including Peloponnese
and Ionian Islands
.
Consulates
The city hosts
consulates from several
European countries (the only exception is the Lebanon consulate)
Infrastructure
The port of Patras
In the past, Patras lacked public investment in infrastructure; in
recent years, this trend has changed significantly. Several
important works have been recently completed to serve Patras as an
Olympic city, a European capital of culture and one of the most
populous Greek cities.
The city has always been a sea-trade hub due to its strategic
position.
The port manages more than half of the
foreign sea-passenger transportation in Greece, and has excellent
car-ferry links with the Ionian islands
and the major Adriatic
ports of Italy.
Additionally, a new port is under construction in the southern
section of the city to accommodate the increased traffic and
relieve the city centre from port operations.
A newly constructed,
ring road
was first opened in 2002 in order to alleviate heavy traffic
throughout the city. A mini ring road is now being constructed to
alleviate heavy traffic-related problems in the city centre. Two
large highways are under construction that will connect the
seacoast and the new port with the external ring road that
surrounds the city of Patras. The first is over the small
Diakoniaris river while the second consists of two roads, each,
that will run in parallel with the Glaykos river. Another project
will lead to an additional entrance to the downtown area by
expanding the
Kanakari street.
The
highway connection with Athens and Pyrgos is to be
drastically upgraded. Patras will also be the central hub of the
Ionia Odos highway, intended to bridge
western Greece from Kalamata
to Ioannina
. The Rio-Antirio bridge is located to the north of the city and links
Peloponnese to mainland Greece, and was completed in August
2004.
A rudimentary
single,
narrow gauge railway track crosses the
city and connects it to Athens and to Pyrgos-Kalamata, while the
central passenger train station lies to the west of the downtown
area, between Aghiou Nikolaou Street and Othonos-Amalias Avenue.
The main freight station of Aghios Andreas lies further to the
south, next to the homonymous church. Finally, the old depot of
Aghios Dionysios, consisting of about ten tracks, offers basic
turntable and roundhouse facilities; its length is approximately
400 m.
A
new standard gauge railway to
Korinth
and further to Athens is under
construction.
Other heavy infrastructure works include the Peiros-Parapeiros dam
(to provide water supply for Patras and surrounding towns) and a
"small industries" park that will be constructed next to the
Glaykos river and provide an easy connection with the new
port.
The city
is one of the main Greek internet and GRNET
hubs and is
connected with high speed lines to Athens as part of the
backbone. A metropolitan optical network will be deployed in
the city, with a total length of .
Two major state hospitals operate in the city: the Saint Andreas
Hospital is the oldest of the two; named after the city's patron
saint. The University Hospital of Rio is a prominent university
hospital, where intern medical students specialize on their major.
There exist, in addition, two smaller state hospitals, Karamandanio
- children's hospital, and the Center of Chest Diseases of
Southwest Greece, and the Greek army operates the 409 army hospital
in the city. A large range of private hospitals and clinics operate
in parallel.
Numerous
art venues and an ultra-modern archaeological museum
were constructed for the needs of European Culture
Capital designation. The cultural and educational facilities
include the city and university libraries, many theatres and a
municipal art gallery, in the host city of the University of
Patras, the Hellenic Open University and the Technical Institute of
Patras. A number of research facilities also surround the
university.
Economy
The economy of the city largely depends on a thriving service
sector. Its main economic activities include retailing, logistics,
financial and the public sector services. Patras suffered a severe
problem of
deindustrialization
during the late 1980s and 1990s; a number of major productive units
shut down in successive order. As a result, a considerable portion
of the city's workforce and the city's economic planning in its
entirety had to be re-evaluated and restructured by the
authorities. The University of Patras contributed by working
towards this goal, using its widely respected service and
technology sectors. The area still retains some of its traditional
winemaking and foodstuff industries as well as a small agricultural
sector, and
its industrial area lies approximately
20 km to the south of the downtown area, located between the
16th km of GR-9 and Fares
/Phares
(pro. FAH-rehs). Major businesses in Patras include:
Banking
Most Greek Banks have their regional headquarters for Western
Greece located in Patras.
Construction and real estate
Numerous small local companies are involved in the construction
sector.
Tertiary education
(
University of Patras,
Hellenic Open University,
TEI of Patras)
Retailing
Most of the large retail and super-market chains operate in the
city. Patras has also some local but dynamic companies.
Tourism
The prefecture has 4,800 hotels rooms and in 2006 286,000 tourists,
mainly Greeks, stayed for a total of 634,000 days.
Transport
The railway station of Patras
- Araxos
airport
, which is mainly a military airport, since it's in
a Hellenic Air Force air base
(used by the 116 Combat Wing), and is used as a civilian airport
too, mainly in the summer, to service certain charter
flights,
- Hellenic Railways
Organisation,
- Ιntercity Buses, which operate transportation to and
from the rest of Greece, like Athens, Thessaloniki etc, but also to
and from places in the province of Achaea,
- Port of
Patras,
- Seaplanes,
- City
Buses, which operate in the city, but also operate a transport line
to and from the University of
Patras, and some close by suburbs, like Saravali
, Zarouchleika, Paralia etc.
Manufacturing
Energy
Acciona has recently completed the largest
wind park in Greece, on the
Panachaiko mountain, overlooking the city of
Patras. The Public Electric Company, operates a small hydroelectric
plant on river
Glafkos.
Foodstuff
The most numerous industries in the city include many local juice
and drinks producers and two large facilities from
Coca Cola HBC
and
Athenian
Brewery. The largest local company in soft-drinks production is
Lux (ΛΟΥΞ). The city is also home to many leading Greek
wineries and distilleries, among them the venerable
Achaia Clauss. In the food sector,
Friesland Foods, through the local
subsidiary
NoyNoy, operates a new yogurt factory in the
industrial area. Patras is also home to important fish-farming
companies (
Andromeda,
Nireus) . ECOFEED operates
in the industrial zone of Patras, the largest fish-feeds factory in
the Mediterranean. The city hosts the second largest
flour-mills in Greece,
Kepenou-Mills.
Machinery
Patras has several packing and industrial equipment companies. The
most important of them are the local
Antzoulatos and the
multinational Frigoglass, a subsidiary of
Coca-Cola, headquartered in the suburbs of
Patras.
Idealis a leading bike producer in Greece, with
large export activities.
Pharmaceutical
Textiles
The omnipresent
textile industry of
the city is now almost defunct after the shut-down of the huge
factory of
Piraiki-Patraiki ("Πειραϊκή-Πατραϊκή"),
followed by numerous smaller textile industries. The remains of the
facilities, still cover hundreds of acres in the south side of the
city. Nowadays, Patras companies focus in dress production, the
most important amongst them being
DUR.
Timber and paper
Patras hosts several timber manufacturing companies, and a wood
distribution center of
Shelman. The largest
local company is
Abex.
The paper sector is also active including a paper-factory belonging
to
Georgia-Pacific (
Delica)
and two important Greek companies,
Elite and
El-pack, headquartered in the city.
Research
There has been a significant development in the
R&D sector, during the last
years, as a result of the many research institutes and the
University impact in the area.
- The Computer
Technology Institute and the
- Industrial Systems Institute of Greece are headquartered in
Patras.
- The city is also a host to the FORTH-ICE-HT
(Institute of Chemical Engineering & High Temperature Chemical
Processes) and the Institute of Biomedical Technology.
- Atmel Corporation has an important R&D
facility in Patras with more than 200 employees
- Bytemobile has its European
Development Center in Patras.
- Intracom facilities in Patras house the
offices of Telecommunications Software Development, Terminal
Equipment Design, Development Programmes, and Support Services
divisions. Expansion plans have recently been completed.
- CBL Patras, a global manufacturer of
specialty chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients, is a
startup from a professor of the University of Patras
- Patras science park is an incubator for many small but upcoming
technology companies.
Culture
The current cultural activity of the city includes the
Patras
International Festival (various artistic activities, mainly in
the field of music), the
Patras Carnival and the Poetry
Symposium. The city hosts several conservatoires and schools of
music, including one devoted exclusively to Byzantine music, and
several orchestras and choirs. There is one full-time theatre group
in the city, as well as several amateur groups. A number of schools
teach dancing, and there are plans to set up a dance theatre within
the context of the Patras Municipal Regional Theatre. Patras has a
visual arts workshop, a school of icon painting and a carnival
float workshop, and hosts a Municipal Gallery as well as private
art galleries; there is also a Municipal Library, an archaeological
museum, a folk art museum, an historical and ethnological museum
and a museum of the press. The architectural heritage of the city
is dominated by neo-classicism, but also includes structures from
other periods.
Entertainment and performing arts
The Patras Municipal Theatre was founded in June 1988 and was
renamed as
Patras Municipal and
Regional Theatre in 1989. The theatre's founding artistic
directors were the actors Maya Liberopoulou and Viktor Arditis, and
the institution draws its funding from the Municipality of Patras
and the Ministry of Culture, with a main stage at the landmark
Apollon Theatre. Throughout
its existence it has mounted critically acclaimed performances
ranging from ancient
dramaturgy, modern
Greek to international repertoire, with other theatre groups nearby
the
Viomichaniki(Industrial) and
Michani Technis
(Art Machine). The ancient Roman Odeum hosts ancient dramas during
the summer months, while the Pantheon theatre and the Art Factory,
the Lithographeion and Agora theatres provide additional
venues.
The
Patras Carnival, Patrino
karnavali is the largest event of its kind in Greece and one of
the biggest in Europe, with a heritage
reaching back 160 years. The events begin on January 17 and
lasts until
Clean Monday. The carnival
is not a single event but a variety of events that include balls,
parades, a children's carnival and artistic projects. Its apogee
comes in the last weekend of Carnival with the Saturday evening
parade of carnival groups, the extravagant Sunday parade of
floats and groups, and finally the
ritual burning of king carnival in the mole of Saint Nikolaos
street in the harbour of Patras. Its characteristic principles are
spontaneity, improvisation, inspiration and volunteerism.
The
International Festival of Patras takes place
every summer, with a program consisting mostly of plays—both
ancient drama and modern theatre—as well as various musical
events.
Music scene
Patras is also responsible for a very strong
indie rock scene with critically acclaimed bands
such as
Raining Pleasure,
Abbie Gale, Serpentine, Doh an Doris and others.
The city is also the birthplace of
Karagiozis, the Greek shadow theatre, with
Dimitris Sardounis as founder.
European Capital of Culture 2006
Patras 2006 logo
Patras
was chosen by the European Commission
to be the European Capital of Culture for
the year 2006. The concept of the event revolved around the
main theme of "Bridges" and "Links", taking benefit from the City's
rich history and its position as a "Gate to the West", to underline
the essence of the productive interaction of culture and
civilisation in
Europe. The EU Commission
found Patras' plans very ambitious and also commented that a
successful hosting of the title by a medium sized city would make
it possible to redefine the meaning of the term Cultural Capital.
During 2006 various cultural events took place.
The
Selection Panel for 2006 noted in its final
report:
The current cultural activity of the city includes the
Patras
International Festival (various artistic activities, mainly in
the field of music), the
Patras Carnival and the
(organized each year for the 25 years by an ad hoc committee at the
University of Patras). The city hosts several conservatoires and
schools of music, including one devoted exclusively to Byzantine
music, and several orchestras and choirs. There is one full-time
theatre group in the city, the, as well as several amateur groups.
A number of schools teach dancing, and there are plans to set up a
dance theatre within the context of the Patras Municipal Regional
Theatre. Patras has a visual arts workshop, a school of icon
painting and a carnival float workshop, and hosts a Municipal
Gallery as well as private art galleries. The city has a Municipal
Library, an archaeological museum, a folk art museum, a historical
and ethnological museum and a museum of the press. The
architectural heritage of the city is dominated by neo-classicism,
but includes also constructions from other periods.
The Patras 2006 proposal focuses on two central ideas: “bridges”
and “dialogues”. Cultural managers from Patras and the general
public will be involved in developing these ideas. Further, four
poles/programmes of cultural attraction will be developed. The
first, “A city for Europe”, will relate to the architectural
heritage, the industrial revolution and similar subjects. “The
counterpart cities” programme will be developed in the fields of
human and social sciences and in diverse artistic fields. “The
three sea battles” will present a cultural programme focusing on
peace and understanding. The last theme, “The many homelands”, is
directly linked to the etymology of the name of the city. This
programme will amongst other things concentrate on art workshops,
the transfer of know-how, way of life and entertainment.
Excerpt
from the Report of the Selection Panel for the European Capital of
Culture 2006
With the completion of the Capital of Culture programme, a part old
factory was renovated to host exhibitions and house a small
theatre, and neoclassical buildings around the city were renovated
as part of a plan to preserve the city's architectural heritage and
link it to its cultural life.
A major new archaeological museum is being built, which with its
globe-like roof and modern architectural design, will enhance the
town's northern entrance and take its place among the other town
landmarks.
Sports
Patras has many sports facilities and important teams in all the
major Greek leagues.
Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi,
Apollon Patras and
EA Patras are the major
sports club based in Patras, the first
specializing in football, the second in basketball and the third in
volleyball.
2009 the International Children's Games had taken place in
Patras.
Religion
The city is the seat of a
Greek
Orthodox archbishopic, while there is
a living community of
Roman
Catholics and a historical
Anglican
church.The most significant church in the city is the Greek
Orthodox cathedral
Agios
Andreas, in the east side of the city. The church, of
Greek Byzantine style, construction began in 1908 under the
supervision of the architect
Anastasioa Metaxas, followed by
Georgios Nomikos. It was inaugurated in
1974. It is the largest church in Greece and the largest
Byzantine-style church in the Balkans. It keeps the relics of the
apostle Saint Andrew, which were sent there from St. Peter's
Basilica, Rome in September, 1964, on the orders of Pope Paul
VI.
People
The city boasts a relatively large number of politicians in the
national political arena as its natives. Most particularly in the
first century after liberation, when the city lay second only to
Athens in the urban hierarchy of the country, significant
personalities shaping the character of Greece were associated with
Patras. Its famous natives include the prime ministers
Dimitrios Gounaris the main leader of the
anti-venizelist party in the 1910s,
Stylianos Gonatas a high-ranking
officer, politician and one of the leaders of the “1922
Revolution”,
Andreas
Michalakopoulos, a prominent
liberal party cadre, foreign minister
and prime minister, and
Dimitrios
Maximos a distinguished economist, minister and finally prime
minister during the
civil war era.
More recent figures include
George Papandreou leader of the
Center Union and one of the most
important political personalities in post World War II Greece,
Panagiotis Kanellopoulos,
the last democratically elected head of government before the
establishment of the 1967
junta, and
Costis Stephanopoulos, the former
president of the Hellenic Republic.
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Sports Related
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Culture Related
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Transportation
Airports
Roads
Twin cities
See also
References
External links
(east)
(south)
(south)
(south)
(south)
, a suburb of Patras.
is located about 40 km from the
city.
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