From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Patra
(
Greek
:
Π?τρα
) is the third biggest
Greek
city. Patra is in southwest Greece on the west coast of the
Peloponnese
. It is the
capital
of the prefecture of
Achaia
and also the capital of the Greek perifereia (district) of Western Peloponnese. 171,616 lived there in 2001. The total population of Patra, including all its
suburbs
, is over 200,000 people. Patra is a coastal city, so it has a big
port
. Patra's port connects Greece with east-facing
Italian
ports such as Bari, Brindisi and Ancona.
Patra developed in the third century BC. During the
Roman
period, Patra became an important city. In Patra
Christianity
arrived quite early, approximately in the first century AD, by St Andrew, who was martyred there. During the
Middle Ages
Patra was not very significant. Patra developed again after the Greek liberation from the
Turks
, in
1830
following the Greek revolution of 1821.
The most important site in Patra is the contemporary
Bridge Rion-Antirion
which links
Peloponnese
and
Sterea Ellada
. This bridge is located a short distance from Patra's center, in the district of Rio. Opposite Rio is Antirio and it ends at the bridge. Other significant sites in Patra are the
church
of Agios Andreas and the Apollon
theater
. The cathedral of Agios Andreas is the third biggest churches in Greece. Patra is known for its wines, with the famous and oldest Winery in Greece, Achaia Clauss founded in 1861.
[1]
Capitals of
Greek
prefectures
|
---|
| |