Patras is a Greek city located on the northern side of the Peloponnese on the Gulf of Patras. The city is known from ancient Greece, where Patras i.a. played a significant role in the formation of the Achaean League. After the Roman invasion in 146 BC. Emperor Augustus founded Patras as a Roman colony, and later the city became an early Christian center where the apostle Andrew was crucified. Patras continued to develop in the subsequent Byzantine era, while it stagnated under the Ottomans to flourish again from the 19th century.

Today, the square Plateía Georgíou A is the modern center of Patras. The square was laid out in 1829 after the destruction during the Greek War of Independence, and it is known for its two fountains and the Apollon theater, which was completed in 1872. From the square, you can take a walk in the area’s many narrow streets, all of which are perpendicular to each other. You can also walk a little to the southwest, where the city’s beautiful St. Andrew’s Cathedral can be seen close to the sea. The cathedral was built from 1908, and it was consecrated in 1974. Opposite the church stands Patras’ lighthouse, which is one of the city’s landmarks.

There are also things to see from Patras of earlier times. In the streets, the music stage odeon is like a ruin from Roman times. Here, the rows of spectators have been reconstructed so that the stage can once again be used for various performances. Close to this you can see excavated parts of i.a. the city’s former Roman amphitheater and stadium, and in the suburb of Aroe are a few preserved parts of the Roman aqueduct that brought water to the city. A little north of the center you can visit the Archaeological Museum of Patras, whose collections depict the history of Patras and the area from the Mycenaean culture to the Roman era.

You can also go for a walk a little up in the heights, where Patras’ historic acropolis was located, and where you can now see the quite well-preserved castle of Patras. The original fortifications were built under the Byzantine emperor Justinian I in the middle of the 5th century, and the facility was expanded significantly in the Middle Ages. Patras’ Borg continued to be used by the military under changing dominions right up until the 20th century. Today you can take a walk in the impressive castle area, from which there is a beautiful view of Patras.