Patras
Patras (
Modern Greek Πάτρα,
Ancient Greek Πάτραι Pátrai, Latin
Patrae) is the third largest city of
Greece. Patras is a conurbation of a quarter to million inhabitants and a centre of the political, economic, administrative and cultural life of Western Greece. During the four millenia of its history, most notably in the Roman times, Patras has many times assumed the role of a cosmopolitan centre of the
Mediterranean world.
|
A view of Patras in the summmer, at sunset time from the height of an incoming ship. In the foreground the quay of Aghiou Nikolaou street and the seaside buildings. Upper left: the ancient fortress (acropolis). In the background: Mount Panachaikon. |
The city is the capital of the
Achaea prefecture of Greece and of the
periphery of
West Greece as well as the first urban centre of the peninsula of
Peloponnese. Patras is of great significance to Christianity as the place where according to Christian Tradition the Fist-called Apostle
Saint Andrew met his
martyrdom. The city is the seat of a
Greek orthodox archbishopric, while there is a living community of
Roman catholics and a historical
Anglican church.
Patras is considered Greece's
Gate to the West, a title which is justified by its role as international commercial center and busy port, with excellent car-ferry links with the
Ionian islands and the major
Adriatic ports of
Italy, and as a functioning nodal point for the entry of goods, people, ideas and cultural influences from the European West. Having two Universities and a Technological Institution and their connected research institutes, the city is an important scientific centre, with a field of excellence in technical education. Furthermore the city is renowned for its european mediterranean-style
carnival, whose main features are the mammoth satyrical floats and the extravagant balls and parades. The indigenous cultural scene revolves around the performing and plastic arts and modern urban literature. The city of Patras is the current
European Capital of Culture.
Patras is located 200 kilometres west of
Athens, on the northeastern coast of the
Peloponnesos at the foot of Mount
Panachaikon, overlooking the
Gulf of Patras), which is, in fact, an inlet of the
Ionian sea. The area has a pleasant
Mediterranean climate, with relatively cool yet humid summers and very mild winters.
|
Seal of the municipality of Patras |
The most common explanation given for the name Patras is the mythological one, from
Patreus the name of the town's legendary settler. In the Greek language, however, the word Patra, is etymologically related to the word
Patrís, which means homeland. It is argued then, that the founding myth was created after the name and not vice versa.
 |
Computer generated view of Patras |
Patras is located 215 kilometers west of
Athens by road, 94 kilometers northeast of
Pyrgos, 7 kilometers south of
Rio, 134 kilometers west of
Corinth, 77 kilometers northwest of
Kalavryta, and 144 kilometers northwest of
Tripoli.
Geography has played a prominent role in shaping the outlook of the modern city. The lowland, which is adjacent to the sea and streches between the estuaries of the rivers Glafkos and Haradros was originally made of soil transferred by the rivers and of dried up swamps. In modern times the lowland is the area of the modern lower town and the port facilities. Adjacent to the lower town on the plateau at the foot of Mount Panachaikon, is the old town, built around the Acropolis since the historic times. Consequently, the division of the modern city in lower and upper town is a result of its location on the natural flow of drainage from the foot of Mount Panachaikon.
The largest river in the area is
Glafkos flowing South of Patras. Glafkos rises from the Mount
Panachaikon and its water is since 1925, collected in a small mountainous reservoir-dam near the village of Souli and then pumped to provide energy for the country's first
hydroelectric plant. The water is also used to water the orchards of Eglykas and as a supply for drinking water for the city. Other rivers are
Haradros,
Meilichos and the mountain torrent
Diakoniaris.
Of great importance for the biological diversity in the area and the preservation of its climate, is the swamp of
Agyia, a small and coastal
aquatic ecosystem of only 30 hectares, located north of the city centre. Main features of the wetland is the apparent rarity of its survival in the heart of a densely populated urban centre in a relatively arid climate, and its admitedly 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 [
1].
An important geophysical characteristic of the region is its great
seismicity, which has been recorded since the historic times and has caused frequent destruction until recently, namely in 1995 with a quake of 5 degrees in the
Richter scale close to the urban area of Patras and a quake that occurred close to
Aigion in 1995. The bordering Ionian islands, have also frequently been hit by more severe earthquakes. During antiquity the most notable example of destruction caused by earthquake in the region was the submergence of the ancient Achaean city of
Eliki.
Antiquity
The first traces of settlement in Patras date to the 3rd millennium BC, in modern
Aroe. During the
Middle Helladic period (the first half of the 2nd millennium BC) another settlement was founded in the region. 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,
Antheia and
Mesatis. Mythology tells us 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 region but it was in Roman times when it became 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) together with the cities Dyme, Triteia and Pharai. As a consequence, the initiative of political movements was transferred for the first time to western
Achaea. Later on and after the Roman occupation of Greece, in
146 BC, Patras played the main role and
Augustus founded a Roman colony there. A
cadastral map was drawn up, privileges were granted, crafts were created, the most important being that of earthen
oil lamps which were exported almost to the whole world of that time, two industrial zones were created, temples were built, roads that rendered Patras a communication center were opened, streets were paved with
flagstones, foreign religions were introduced. Patras was by then a cosmopolitan city. But at the end of the 3rd century AD it fell into decline, probably because of a strong earthquake that struck the whole of northeastern Peloponnese in 300 AD.
Saint Andrew
|
The monumental church of St Andreas, where the saint's relics are kept, said to be erected over the place of his martyrdom. |
According to the Christian tradition,
Saint Andrew came to Patras to preach
Christianity during the reign of Emperor
Nero and was crucified as a martyr. He is said to have suffered crucifixion on a cross of the form called
Crux decussata (X-shaped cross) and commonly known as "St Andrew's cross". He is ever since considered to be the patron saint of the city. According to tradition his relics were removed from Patras to
Constantinople, and thence to the West. Local legends say that the relics were sold to the Romans by the local priests in exchange of the Romans constructing a water reservoir for the city (Thomopoulos).
In recent years, the relics were kept in the
Vatican City, but were sent back to Patras by decision of the
Pope Paul VI in 1964. The relics, which consist of the small finger and part of the top of the cranium of St Andrew, are since kept in the New Church of St Andrew in a special tomb, and are reverenced in a special ceremony every
November 30. Two temples were built in his honor, an old
byzantine-style
basilica and a new monumental church completed in the
1970s.
Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman times
During
Byzantine times Patras continued to be an important port and an industrial center. One of the most scholarly philosophers and theologians of the time,
Arethas of Caesarea was born in Patras, circa
860. In the 9th century there is a sign that the city was prosperous: the widow
Danielis from Patras had accumulated immense wealth in land ownership, 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 Achaia within the
Principality of Achaea. In
1408, it became
Venetian. It was seized again 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 called Baliabadra (from 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 commercial center.
Venice and
Genoa attacked and captured Patras several times during the 15th and 16th centuries, but never re-established their rule effectively.
[Encyclopaedia of Islam s.v. Baliabadra]Generally, the first period of Turkish rule (
1460-
1687) was miserable, but from
1715 and on there was a revival of commerce, and so in the
18th century it became a prosperous town again economically based on agriculture and trade.
On
7 October 1571, the Ottoman fleet on the one side, and the fleet of the Christian
Holy League on the other, clashed in the
Gulf of Patras, in the
Battle of Lepanto. The Ottomans were defeated, but the Holy League did not seize the city of Patras. The news of the Ottoman destruction were celebrated in Patras, but a revolt organized by five of the
elders of the town and metropolitan Germanos I of Old Patras (1561-1572) was stifled and its instigators were executed.
[Chasiotis,Ioannis "Revolutionary efforts in the Greek area after the naval battle", Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous, Ekdotiki Athinon, vol. 10, pp. 320-321, Athens 1974]Patras played an active part in the Independence struggle against the Ottomans (1821). It is argued that the
Greek Revolution was declared the
25th March 1821, when the then archbishop of Old Patras, and member of the revolutionary organization
Filiki Eteria,
Germanos swore in the first freedom warriors in the chapel of
Agios Georgios close to the modern day square.
Modern times
|
Patras, exportation of raisin |
|
The Apollo Theatre in Georgiou I square, a work of the architect Ernst Ziller, built with the contributions of the thriving 19th century commercial class |
Patras was liberated on
7 October 1828 by the French expeditionary force in the Peloponnese, under the command of
General Maison. In
1829 the then Governor of Greece,
John Capodistria approved a very ambitious new urban plan for the citypresented to him by the French army engineer
Stamatis Vulgaris. The plan was not enforced until the mid-19th century and then only with great adaptations conforming to the interests of powerful land owners. Patras developed as 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
[Kounenaki Pegy, "19th Century Patras: how the character of the city changed with the development of the port after 1828" Kathimerini 14-10-01 http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_civ_491371_14/10/2001_3252]. It was the main centre for the organisation of production of
raisin, offering warehouse, banking and insurance services. However, this early era of prosperity was short lived; the completion of the
Corinth Canal in 1893 challenged the predominance of its port. Besides, in
1894 raisin export prices in the international markets began to plummet, due to overproduction and international circumstances, which triggered a prolonged crisis with deep financial, political and social repercussions, known as the
Great raisin crisis[Nasi Balta, "The civilization of raisin. Raisin cultivation in 19th century Peloponnese, the economic crisis, and the revolt of the farmworkers. The political, cultural and social framework" To Vima 06/02/2000 Page S03 http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=12838&m=S03&aa=1 ]. Trade with
western Europe, mainly
Britain,
France and
Italy, did much to shape the city's early identity as a significant port and cosmopolitan urban centre in early 20th century Greece.
In the early
20th century, Patras developed fast and became the first Greek city to introduce public streetlights and electrified tramways. The war effort of the
first World War hampered the city's development and also created uncontrollable
urban sprawl with the influx of refugees from
Minor Asia. During the Second World War Patras was the major target of Italian
air raids. At the time of the Axis occupation, a German military command was established and German and Italian troops were stationed in the city. On
13th December 1943, in the nearby town of
Kalavryta, the German troops executed all the male population and set the town ablaze. After the liberation city grew fast to recover, but in later years was increasingly overshadowed by the urban pole of
Athens.
Notes*Τριανταφύλλου, Κ.Ν., Ιστορικόν Λεξικόν των Πατρών
*Θωμόπουλου, ΣΤ.Ν, Ιστορία της πόλεως Πατρών από αρχαιοτάτων χρόνων μέχρι 1821, Πάτραι 1952 (επιμ. Κ.Ν. Τριανταφύλλου).
|
Panoramic view of Patras at night |
The city nowadays is divided into upper and lower parts connected by broad flights of steps, as well as streets. The upper part is the older and more picturesque but the lower part is attractively laid out with plenty of squares in a geometrical pattern.The most notable squares are
Psila Alonia and
Georgiou I square. There are many exquisite neoclassical buildings like the
theatre "Apollon
" in Georgiou I Square, the Town Hall
, the headquarters of the Local Trade Association
and the Justice Court
.
The most significant, open to visit, 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 the ruined Castle'', whose current outline dates back to the Venetian invasion of the town (
1687-
1715). In current times, its interior is laid out as a public garden.
|
The Old Lighthouse (replica of the original lighthouse of Patras) |
Close to the seafront, between the site of the new and the old port, there is the monumental church of St Andrew and in a projection of land stands a replica of the city's emblematic old lighthouse, built as a part of a coastline beautification project. Generally, much of Patras' coastline has streets running alongside. Roads include
Akte Dymaion in the south, and
Iroon Polytechneiou in the north. Unfortunately, due to bad urban design planning and institutional weakness on the part of the City Council, which in turn is due to the lack of financial planning, most of the city's coastal areas are not in an ideal situation and spots are being illegally occupied by shops which are illegally built on the coastline. This is contrary to the
Constitution of Greece of
2001 declares that the Greek coastline is a "National Treasure" and as such it belongs to the People.
The city is endowed with many
neoclassical buildings and mansions from late 19th-early 20th century, which now enhance the city centre. Years of neglect and the absence of protection enforcement, as well as recent earthquakes, had contributed to the destruction of many, but today most surviving neoclassical buildings are under protection status. A project for the restoration of the city's architectural heritage is part of the
2006 Cultural Capital bid.
Several
(Λαϊκή)laikê (produce bazaars) take place in the city's neighborhoods on weekdays and on Saturday.
|
Rion-Antirrion Bridge; firework show, Summer 2004 |
In Patras are found 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 Andreas, the oldest of the two is named after the city's patron saint and it resides on the south side of the city. The
University Hospital of Rio is a university hospital, where med-students intern and specialise in their major. It resides on the north-eastern part of the city, inside the city's University campus.
*Rail connection:A rudimentary
single,
narrow gauge track of around 12 km crosses the city. The central passenger train station lies west of downtown between the port's Aghiou Nikolaou mole and Othonos-Amalias Avenue.The main freight station of Aghios Andreas lies further south, next to the homonymous church. Finally the old depot of Aghios Dionysios, of about ten tracks, which lies a little north, now offers elementary turntable and roundhouse facilities. Its length is around 400 m. It is situated near the park and Athinon Street.
*The
Rio-Antirio bridge:Is located north of Patras, and links the
Peloponnese to mainland Greece. It was completed in August 2004.
* The new highway:A
beltway, the length of which is 20 km, was first opened in
2002 to alleviate traffic passing through the city. Two highway lanes are being constructed, to link the beltway to the city's new port.
Under construction * Mini
beltway:Is being constructed to relieve the city center from heavy congestion.
* New
port:A new port is under construction in the southern part of the city.
* Metropolitan Optical network :An optical network will be deployed with a total length of 39.2km
* High Speed Interconnections with the large beltway.:Two big highways are under construction that will connect the seacoast and the new port with the large beltway that surrounds the city of Patras. The first is over the small river Diakoniaris, while the second consists of two roads, 4km each, in parallel with river Glaykos.
* Expansion of the Kanakari street.:A project that will lead to an additional entrance and passage for the city center.
* New Highways :Expansion of the
highway connection with
Athens and
Pyrgos. Construction of the Ionia Odos highway until
IoanninaThe city economy has a larger service sector. Main activities are retailing, logistics, financial services, and the public sector services.Patras suffered from a great problem of
deindustrialization during the late 1980s and 1990s. Many big productive units were shut down one after the other and the workforce as well as the city's economy had to restructure. To this aim contributed the university, and a small but dynamic service and technology sector that evolves around it. The city-region retains some of its traditional winemaking and foodstuff industries and a small agricultural sector.Patras'
industrial area is 20 km south of downtown, and is located between the 16th km of GR-9 and
Fares/Phares (pro. FAH-rehs). Major businesses in Patras are:
Service Sector
* Transport:
Port of Patras,
Seaplanes,
Araxos Airport,
Hellenic railways,
Ιntercity Buses* Tertiary Education :
Uni. Patras,
Hellenic Open University,
TEI Patras* Regional Hospital:
University Hospital,
Agios Andreas,
Olympion S.A.* Administration:
Region of Western Greece,
Perfecture,
* Logistics
* Banking:Most of the Greek Banks have their "Western Greece" Headquarters located in Patras.
* Construction & Real estate
* ICTs
* Catering
* Retailing
* Tourism
* Media
* Advertisement
Research
|
The new building of the Computer Technology Institude in Patras |
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.
*
Computer Technology Institute*
Systems Institute*
Patras Science Park*
Institute of Chemical Engineering & High Temperature Chemical Processes*
Institute of Biomedical Technology'''Manufacturing
|
A symbol of Greek wine-making: the Achaia Clauss wine factory, famous for its Mavrodaphne; founded in 1861 by the Bavarian Gustav Clauss. |
* Foodstuff industries
* Wineries and distilleries
* Dairy Products
* Textiles
* Metal processing
* Machinery
* Timber
* Energy :
Eoliki Panachaikou wind parkOne of the biggest tourist attractions of Patras, is the
Carnival of Patras[
2], held every year from February to March. It is said to be one of the most famous in the world coming just after Rio de Janeiro and Venice. The
International Festival of Patras takes place every summer, with a program consisting mostly of playsas well as various music concerts. Patras has also a very strong
indie rock scene with critically acclaimed bands such as
Raining Pleasure, Abbie Gale, Serpentine, Doh an Doris and many more.
European Capital of Culture 2006
Patras was chosen by the
European Commission to be the
European Capital of Culture for the year 2006. The planning involves the construction of a major archaeological museum, to be finished in 2006, 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. Moreover the concept of
Patras 2006 revolves 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 really 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. So far, various cultural events have taken place and the construction of the new museum is moving on rapidly. Old factories and neoclassical buildings are renovated as part of a plan to link such spaces to preserve the city's architectural heritage and link it to its cultural life.
The
Selection Panel for 2006 noted in its final report:
The current cultural activity [3] of the city includes the Patras International Festival (various artistic activities, mainly in the field of music), the Patras Carnival and the Poetry Symposium (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 Patras Municipal Regional Theatre, 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, an 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[4][5]
Patras has many sports facilities and important teams in all the major greek leagues.
Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi is the major
sports club based in Patras.
There are around 10 local radio stations and 4 television stations, 1 covering the entire south-western region of Greece and 3 stations that broadcast only in the prefecture of
Achaia. The main newspapers are the
Peloponnisos and
Imera.
*
Agyia*
Mpozaitika, east part
*
Demenika, northern part
*
Lefka, a small subdivision south of the Glaukos river and north of
Paralia and
Messatidos (Ovryá)
*
Skiessa, a small subdivision 5 km NE of downtown.
*
Romanos, about 5 km E of downtown
*
Vrysaiika, about 6 km SE of downtown
*
Psarofai, 3-4 km southwest of downtown
*
Zarouhleika, 5 km southwest of downtown
*
Rio (north)
*
Moira (northeast)
*
Ekilistra (east)
*
Petroto (east)
*
Saravali (southeast, south)
*
Paralia (south)
*Moira
*
Souli*Elekistra
| Year | Province of Patras[1928-1980 statistical data are from: "The population of Greece in the second half of the 20th century". Hellenic Republic. National Statistical Service of Greece. Athens 1980 & "Statistical Yearbook of Greece" Hellenic Republic. National Statistical Service of Greece. Athens 1980] | Greater Patras | Patras[Population data from 1853 to 1920 are cited from: Kosta N. Triantafullou, "Istorikon Lexikon ton Patron: Istoria tis poleos ton Patron apo arxaiotaton xronon eos simeron kata alphavitikin eidologikin katataksin" 3rd edition, Patrai 1995] | Municipal Population[Data on municipal and urban population refer to permanent population and are taken from: the "2001 Census" of the National Statistical Service of Greece] | Change | Urban Population | Change |
|---|
| 1853 | - | - | 15,854 | - | - | - | - |
| 1861 | - | - | 18,342 | - | - | - | - |
| 1870 | - | - | 16,641 | - | - | - | - |
| 1879 | - | - | 25,494 | - | - | - | - |
| 1889 | - | - | 33,529 | - | - | - | - |
| 1896 | - | - | 37,985 | - | - | - | - |
| 1907 | - | - | 37,728 | - | - | - | - |
| 1920 | - | - | 52,174 | - | - | - | - |
| 1928 | 118.2 | - | 61,278 | - | - | - | - |
| 1940 | 141.3 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1951 | 154.1 | 94,192 | 87,570 | - | - | - | - |
| 1961 | 165.3 | 103,985 | 96,100 | - | - | - | - |
| 1971 | 174.7 | 120,847 | 112,228 | - | - | - | - |
| 1981 | - | 154,596 | 142,163 | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | - | 170,452 | 153,344 | 161,782 | - | 190,463 | - |
| 2001 | - | - | - | 171,616 | 9,834/6,08% | 210,494 | 20,031/10,52% |
The municipality includes the following communities:
Moira(73), Souli(900) and Ekilistra(1,401) along with areas in the
Panachaicus range.
The urban area of Patras includes the towns of:
*Rion (12,674)
*Paralia (9,153)
*
Vrachneika (4,805)
*Messatida (12,246)
That is 18,5% of the urban population.
*
Bydgoszcz,
Poland*
Chişinău,
Moldova*
Bari,
Italy*
Ancona,
Italy*
Gjirokastër,
Albania *
Canterbury,
Australia*
Reggio di Calabria,
Italy*
Limassol,
Cyprus*
Craiova,
Romania*
Banja Luka,
Bosnia and Herzegovina*
Ammochostos,
Cyprus*
Saint-Étienne,
FranceStatesmen
The city boasts that a relatively large number of politicians in the national political arena were its natives. Especially in the first century after its liberation, when the city was second only to Athens in the urban hierarchy of the country, significant personalities that shaped the character of Greece were associated with Patras. 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,
Dimitrios Maximos a distinguished economist, minister and finally prime minister during the
civil war era. More recent figures include
George Papandreou (senior) 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
Konstantinos Stephanopoulos the former president of the Hellenic Republic.
Image:Patrasport.JPG|View from the portImage:Rionbridge.jpg|Rion-Antirrio BridgeImage:Patras_Patrasfortress.jpg|FortressImage:Oldlighthouse.jpg|Old lighthouseImage:Patrasodeum.jpg|Roman OdeumImage:Clauss.jpg|Achaia ClaussImage:patrnight.jpg|Night view of PatrasImage:Patras NASA WorldWind.jpg|Computer generated view
*
The official website of the city*
Patras 2006 European Capital of Culture*
University of Patras*
Technological Educational Institute of Patras*
Patras Port*
The official website of the Carnival of Patras*
Patras Tourist Info*
Media in Patras*
traveljournals.net - Patras*
DEPAP*
GTP - Patras*
GTP - Municipality of Patra/Patras*
GTP - Ancient Patras*
Indexmundi - Patras*
Patras Municipal and Regional Theater*
Patras Port Live Camera*
Patra info and photos*
local news portal*
News portal*
Communities of Achaia*
Patras Wireless Network*
History of Anarchism in Patras
