Patras has a history of more than four thousand years. Over these years the city has been at the centre of political events such as the formation of the famous Achaian League, which was the first form of representative government back in 280 BC, the uprise against the Turks, which started in the region in 1821 and in more recent years, at the turn of the 20th century, the appearance of the first workers’ movement. No wonder eight prime ministers and one of the presidents of modern Greece were either born or raised in Patras.

In contemporary times the city is the capital of the prefecture of Achaia and of the region of Western Greece, which includes Peloponnesse and the western part of the mainland. Its port, one of the main ports in Greece, is the country’s gate to the West. The city is ideally surrounded by the sea as well as mountains. Located quite close to Olympia, Delphi, Epidaurus and Mycenae it is the place the visitor can use as a base to explore an area of many challenges.

Hosting two Universities and one Technical Institution, Patras is enlivened by academic community and it is here where the most famous carnival in Greece takes place. With its impressive new archaeological museum, a great number of imposing churches (including two orthodox churches, one catholic and one anglican devoted to St. Andrew, the city’s patron), a perfect street planning, neo-classical buildings, ancient monuments, large squares, narrow and atmospheric alleys and stairs, walking around the centre of Patras will be a very pleasant surprise!