Patras Maps

Patras is Greece's third-largest city and the regional capital of Western Greece, located in the northern Peloponnese on the Gulf of Patras. The city has a metropolitan population of approximately 220,000. Patras is a major port city with ferry connections to Italy and the Ionian Islands, serving as an important transportation hub between Greece and Western Europe.

The Castle of Patras, built on the site of the ancient acropolis, contains fortifications from multiple periods. The Byzantines constructed the original fortress in the 6th century CE, which the Franks, Venetians, and Ottomans subsequently modified. The castle offers views over the city and gulf. The Roman Odeon, dating to the 2nd century CE, has been restored and hosts performances during summer months. The structure originally accommodated approximately 2,500 spectators.

The Cathedral of Saint Andrew, completed in 1974, is one of the largest churches in Greece and the Balkans. The church houses the relics of Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Patras, who was martyred in the city in 60 CE. The Archaeological Museum of Patras, one of Greece's most modern museum facilities, displays artifacts from the region spanning from prehistory through the Roman period. The Apollon Municipal Theatre, built in 1872, is a neoclassical building modeled after La Scala in Milan.

Patras is famous for its annual Patras Carnival, one of the largest in Europe, featuring three weeks of festivities culminating in a grand parade. The upper town (Ano Poli) retains neoclassical architecture and offers views of the Gulf. The Rio-Antirrio Bridge, officially the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge, connects Patras to mainland Greece across the Gulf of Corinth. Completed in 2004, it is one of the world's longest cable-stayed bridges at 2,883 meters.