Patras (in Greek old Πάτραι /plural Pátrai , regularized in Greek modern in Πάτρα /singular Pátra ) is the fourth town of Greece.

Capital of the area of Greece of the West, it is also chief town of the Nome Achaïe. It is also the main port of travellers (on the gulf of Patras) bound for the Ionian islands (Zakynthos, Céphalonie, Corfou, Ithaque) and of the Italy.
Industrial town, it is also one of the poorest cities of Greece. Patras was in 2006 the European capital of the culture.

Geography

History

The city is old évêché of the Church. Patras asserts the honor to have been the first city to be itself raised at the time of the Guerre of Greek independence thanks to its archbishop Germanos, on March 25th, 1821.

Administration

The mayor of the city, Andréas Fouras, is member of the PASOK (left Socialist). The city is the prefecture of the department (Nomos) Of Achaia (Greek: Ἀχαΐα

Demography

Economy

Places and monuments

Patras has two large districts:

• the old city, close to the castle;
• the low city where the port and the stores are.

In winter is held one of the most famous Hellenic carnivals there, even of Balkans.

Curiosity:

• Churches Saint-Andrew (orthodoxe located at the west, roman catholic in the Center)
• the old city on the heights
• the bridge of Rio-Antirio
• Casino of Rio
• Olympic stadium Panpeloponisiako
• Stage Panachaikis
• Stage " Andreas Kanistras"
• Stage Prosfigika

Neighborhood:

• Olympie (100 km)
• Delphes (100 km)
• village of Galaxidi (90 km)
• beach of Kalogria (35 km)
• military base of Araxos (30 km)
• Rio (5km)
• Ski station of Kalavrita (150 km)

It has a university: the University of Patras.

Personalities related to the commune

• Kostís Palamás, poet, was born there in 1859.
• Stilianos Gonatas, Prime Minister in the years 1920
• Kóstas Katsouránis, to play of football evolving/moving with was born

there

See too

Twinnings

• Bydgoszcz , Poland
• Chişinău , Moldova
• Bari , Italy
• Ancona , Italy
• Gjirokastër , Albania
• Canterbury , Australia
• Reggio di Calabria , Italy
• Limassol , Cyprus
• Craiova , Romania
• Banja Luka , Bosnia-Herzégovine
• Ammochostos , Cyprus
• Saint-Etienne , France

External bonds

• Patras European capital of the culture in 2006
• To discover Patras
Photo
• of Patras
Photo
• of kalavryta
• Photographs of the Carnival of Patras in 2005
• Patras
• Official site of the municipality of Patras

Random links:

Pont- the Bishop (Oise) | Zombis | Rock Punt | Guarujá | Mohammed Farah