Patras

Patras, situated in the north-west of the Peloponnese, is a lively port and university town, a place where entertainment, history and culture combine to create a wonderful city. Patras has over 4000 years of history: it has been inhabited since prehistoric times and later became an important centre of Mycenaean civilisation.

 

 

A tour of the city could begin in Agiou Nikolaou (Ayiou Nikoláou), the famous pedestrian street from where 192 steps lead to the Old Town. This romantic walk on paved streets reveals large colourful neoclassical buildings that are symbols of the city’s glorious past.

 

 

The Medieval Castle is well worth visiting. Built in the second half of the sixth century AD on the ruins of an ancient acropolis, its walls enclose an area of 22,725 square metres. It has an external triangular layout, which is strengthened by imposing towers and ramparts.

 

To the west of the Acropolis, in the Upper Town (Ano Poli), is the Roman Odeon, which was built before the Odeon of Athens (Herodion 160 AD). The surrounding area is an archaeological site, displaying mosaics, sarcophagi and other interesting ancient finds.

 

 

 

 

The city centre offers two important monuments to visit: the Church of St. Andrew of Patras, one of the largest churches in the Balkans, and dedicated to the St. Andrew, patron saint of the city; and the municipal Apollon Theatre, one of the first European theatres designed in 1872 by the German architect Ernest Ziller.

 

Different areas in Patras pay homage to the famous Greek poet Kostis Palamas, such as the house where he was born, which is very interesting to visit. After he moved to Athens, it was the place where the Serao family (of Italian origin) lived and where the Italian writer Matilde Serao was born. Today it is home to the Kostis Palamas Institution, while his statue is found in Ypsila Alonia Square.

A day can be spent walking through the squares of the city, Georgiou, Olgas or Ypsila Alonia, to admire the exquisitely restored neoclassical buildings. A tour of some of the museums of the city completes a visit to Patras. These include the New Archaeology Museum, the Folk Art Museum and the Museum of History and Ethnology.

 

 

Lastly, don’t miss a trip to the Wall of Dymaeans (or Castle of Kaloyria), the only example of a Mycenaean fortified acropolis in Western Greece and an important archaeological site, which is found in Achaea in Cape Araxos, just 35 km to the south-west of Patras. Here you can stroll around this ancient fortress, which is strategically located at the top of the rocky peaks of the Black Mountains (Mávra Óri), and admire its monumental doors and imposing towers. According to fascinating Greek mythology, the Wall of Dymeans was built by the demi-god Hercules to protect the land of Dyme from incursions by the Eleans. It is an acropolis of incomparable beauty resembling the ones Homer describes in his epics.

 

 

www.visitgreece.gr

 

 

Don’t miss a visit to the “Wall of Dymaeans”, the unique fortified Mycenaean acropolis in Western Greece. Discover a lesser-known, yet major archaeological site, just 35 km southwest of Patras. According to the ancient Greek mythology, it was built by the demi-god Hercules in order to protect the land of Dyme from the incursions of the Eleans. The fort, with circular defensive enceinte, was constructed in the Mycenaean period and remained in use until the Venetian rule.