5000 years of history invite you
From the modern harbour you start a journey back in time: Feel the evidence of the Roman colony that flourished in Patras 2000 years ago. Marvel at the achievements of the art and craftsmanship of the ancient Greeks in ancient Plevrona. Discover the signs of the last outposts of the Mycenaean world at Voudeni and the Dumaion Wall. Visit the new Archaeological Museum, where the architecture of today and tomorrow opens a window to the culture of yesterday.
Archaeological Museum of Patras
The new Archaeological Museum of Patras is located at the northern entrance of the city, occupying a total area of 5,955sq.m. It has three large halls for the permanent exhibition, one hall for temporary exhibitions, as well as a series of auxiliary rooms and workshops.
The permanent exhibition features artifacts dating from 3000 BC to the 4th century AD, originating from the city of Patras and surrounding areas of southern and western Achaia. The exhibition is organized into three major thematic sections, highlighting private life, public life, and cemeteries (necropolis) respectively. In all sections, significant emphasis is placed on items from the Mycenaean period (1500-1000 BC), which was a time of prosperity for the region, as well as artifacts from the Roman period (1st century BC – 4th century AD), notably including an impressive collection of mosaic floors.
Useful Information:
Phone: 2610420615
Opening hours: Daily except Monday, 08:30 – 15:00
The Stadium or amphitheatre
The Roman stadium, whose excavation has not been completed, was a public building intended for the entertainment of the public and was constructed in the 1st or 2nd century AD and has an elongated shape with external dimensions: length 200 m. and width 90 m.
Its long sides are slightly curved, while on the narrow sides two maples (petals) are formed.
Its eastern long side is supported on a natural slope and the rest are supported by strong retaining walls. On the side resting on the slope there were two or three dormers under which underground corridors (cryptoportici) and auxiliary spaces for athletes and events are preserved.
Various sporting and artistic competitions were held in the stadium, including the ‘Kaisaria’. As confirmed by Pausanias’ reference to the existence of the temple of Nemesis, the patron saint of gladiators, which was located near the northern entrance of the building, the games of gladiators were also held in the stadium.
The Aqueduct
With the great increase in the population of Patras in Roman times and possibly for reasons of water scarcity, the Aqueduct was constructed. It started from the sources of the present-day Diakoniaris River, in the Romanos area and after a 7-kilometre route it ended in a large reservoir near the Castle. The water was transported in built pipelines, either underground, passing through hillsides, or above ground, placed on a series of archways, from one to three high, bridging gorges and valleys. From the cistern, water was piped into the town through a network of pipes under the streets and from there into the houses.
The Conservatory
According to Pausanias, the most presentable of all the Greek Odeums except the Herodion was that of Patras. It was probably built in the 2nd century AD and ceased to be used after the 3rd century AD. It was discovered in 1889 and its restoration was completed in 1961, with the contribution of the architect I. Vasileiou of Patras. It consists of the main parts of the theatre, which are the hollow, the orchestra and the stage structure. The hollow, in which the movement of the spectators was facilitated by stairs, is divided by a corridor (frieze) into two parts, the upper and the lower. The orchestra is marble-clad and separated from the cavern by a low marble vault. The stage structure consists of the proscenium, the stage and the backstage, and in the proscenium there are niches in which statues were placed.
Useful Information:
Phone: 2610220829
Opening hours: Daily except Monday, 08:00 – 15:00
Entrance: free
The Roman bridge
A short distance from the centre of Patras to the north, one of the best preserved bridges of the Roman period (4th century AD) is preserved. It was built. It was built on the river that in ancient times was called Kallinaos.
The bridge belonged to the public road (via publica) that connected Patras with Aegio. It consists of two arches and is built with typical Roman masonry of clay bricks and stone foundations, while the part of the road that passes over the bridge is built with stone slabs on which the grooves of the wheels of wheeled vehicles can be seen.
A smaller, single-arched bridge built with limestone exists south of the previous one, dating back to the 1st century AD. After the construction of the two-arch bridge, its opening was closed, while at the same time walls were built to enclose the riverbed.
Castle of Patras
It was founded in the 6th century AD. Χ. It was founded in the 6th century in the reign of Justinian. The history of the castle is connected with the history of Patras. Its construction was carried out with building material from the ancient Acropolis, which was located on the same spot and had already collapsed.
The castle consists of a triangular outer enclosure, reinforced with towers and bastions, originally protected by a deep moat and an inner enclosure, which rises in the NE corner and is also surrounded by a moat.
The castle, which remained in continuous use for the defence of the city, was used as an administrative and military centre until the Second World War, when it was conquered by the Franks, Venetians, Palaiologues and Turks.
Castle of Rio
Fortification project of Sultan Bayezid II, built opposite the castle of Antirio, so as to control the sea passage from the Ionian Sea to the Corinthian Gulf, called “Kiouchuk Chanak Kale”, i.e. “Little Dardanelles”.
The castle is surrounded on one side by a wide moat which contains seawater since it is joined to the sea which waters the rest of the castle. In the moat there are two outer bastions connected to the main castle by stone bridges. It has two gates, the sea gate and the central gate.
It is used for cultural events.
Ajaya Klaus
In 1861 Gustavus Klaus founded a wine industry in the area of Petrotos, which was mainly supplied by privately owned vineyards. The company focused on the production of noble wines such as ‘Mavrodaphne’. Of particular interest is the ‘imperial cellar’, all the barrels of which are souvenirs of visits by Greek and foreign kings. The oldest wine in Greece, the old Mavrodaphne of 1873, is also kept in this room. Over the years, Ajaya Klaus has enjoyed great glory. Some important personalities who have visited the factory: Otto von Bismarck, Franz Liszt, Eleftherios Venizelos, Melina Mercouri, Empress Sissy of Austria, General Montgomery, Alexander Fleming, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Paul Kountouriotis, Aristotle Onassis, Omar Sharif as well as Kings Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, George I, Constantine I, George II and Queens Alexandra of Great Britain, Louisa of Sweden and Queens Olga and Sophia of Greece and Princess Maria Bonaparte.
Rio-Antirrio Bridge, Bridge Museum
A new era in transport and communications has begun for the whole of Western Greece, with the completion of the Rio Antirrio interconnection project. The “Charilaos Trikoupis” bridge (named in honour of the first Greek politician who envisioned the project), which is the landmark of 21st century Greece, radically changed the geopolitical and economic landscape of the region, eliminating distances and creating new facts. The Rio-Antirrio Bridge is the longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge in the world, with a main deck of 2 252 metres. Its foundations are located at a sea depth of up to 65 metres. Both this and the diameter of the foundations, which is 90 metres, are world records for a bridge. The Bridge has so far been awarded nine international prizes by the international scientific community. In the buildings of the toll bridge in Antirrio, there is a well-organised and stylish permanent exhibition presenting the history of the bridge’s construction.
Archaeological Site of Voudeni
The Mycenaean settlement of Boudenis, 8 km from the centre of Patras, is one of the most important sites of the Mycenaean world, with a duration of almost five hundred years (1500-1000 BC), while the site itself seems to have been inhabited from the ME to the late Roman period (1800 BC – 4th AD).
The special feature of Voudeni is that both the settlement and the cemetery of the Mycenaean settlement have been investigated.
The settlement is located on the top of a hill with a panoramic view of the Patraikos Gulf and the Ionian Sea. To the southeast of the settlement is the necropolis of Voudeni, where 78 graves have been identified and investigated so far, opened in a radial arrangement in the soft rock of the area.
The study of the finds revealed evidence that indicates the wealth and prosperity of the inhabitants of the Mycenaean settlement, the commercial and cultural contacts with other regions such as Messinia, Laconia, Argolidocorinthia, Crete, Italy, Syropalaestine -Anatolia and others and highlight the settlement of Voudeni as an important and important Mycenaean centre of Achaia.
