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Patras
KNOWLEDGE OF Patras
Patras (Greek: Modern: ΠάτÏ?α, Ancient: ΠάτÏ?αι, 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 capital of the Region of West Greece. Patras's metropolitan area 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.
Patras was first inhabited in the 3rd millennium BC. These very ancient traces of the city are located at the region where Aroe is situated today. During the next Middle-Helladic period, in the first half of the 2nd millennium BC, another settlement was founded at the region. But Patras starts flourishing for the first time during the Post-Helladic or Mycenean period (1580–1100 BC). 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 Antiquity, Patras remained a farming region but in Roman times it became an important port.
After 280 BC, Patras plays a significant role in the foundation of the second "Achaian League" (Achaiki Sympoliteia) together with the cities Dyme, Triteia and Pharai and the initiative of the political movements is transferred for the first time at the western Achaia. Later on and after the Roman occupation of Greece, in 146 BC, Patras plays the main role and Augustus founds here a Roman colony. A cadastral map is drawn up, privileges are given, crafts are created, and the most important was that of earthen oil lamps which were exported almost to the whole world of that time, two industrial zones are created, temples are built, roads that render Patras a communication center are opened, streets are paved with flagstones, foreign worships are introduced. Patras is by then a cosmopolitan city. But at the end of the 3rd century AD it falls into decline, most possibly because of a strong earthquake that stroke the whole of NE Peloponnese in 300 AD. Saint Andrew came to Patras to preach Christianity during the reign of Emperor Nero and was crucified 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 traditional 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 commerce and so in the 18th century it became a prosperous town again economically based on agriculture and trade. Later on, Patras played an active part in the Independence struggle against the Ottomans (1821).
The town nowadays remains 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 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 was first inhabited in the 3rd millennium BC. These very ancient traces of the city are located at the region where Aroe is situated today. During the next Middle-Helladic period, in the first half of the 2nd millennium BC, another settlement was founded at the region. But Patras starts flourishing for the first time during the Post-Helladic or Mycenean period (1580–1100 BC). 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 Antiquity, Patras remained a farming region but in Roman times it became an important port.
After 280 BC, Patras plays a significant role in the foundation of the second "Achaian League" (Achaiki Sympoliteia) together with the cities Dyme, Triteia and Pharai and the initiative of the political movements is transferred for the first time at the western Achaia. Later on and after the Roman occupation of Greece, in 146 BC, Patras plays the main role and Augustus founds here a Roman colony. A cadastral map is drawn up, privileges are given, crafts are created, and the most important was that of earthen oil lamps which were exported almost to the whole world of that time, two industrial zones are created, temples are built, roads that render Patras a communication center are opened, streets are paved with flagstones, foreign worships are introduced. Patras is by then a cosmopolitan city. But at the end of the 3rd century AD it falls into decline, most possibly because of a strong earthquake that stroke the whole of NE Peloponnese in 300 AD. Saint Andrew came to Patras to preach Christianity during the reign of Emperor Nero and was crucified 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 traditional 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 commerce and so in the 18th century it became a prosperous town again economically based on agriculture and trade. Later on, Patras played an active part in the Independence struggle against the Ottomans (1821).
The town nowadays remains 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 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.
Chapi