1. GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY AND MONUMENTS OF PATRAS

9. T HIS IS P ATRAS...

10. THE HISTORY: Patras, the third largest city in Greece with a population of 300.000. It is a major Mediterranean port and the country's main Gate to the West - a modern financial, commercial and cultural centre. The city has a wide variety of monuments bearing witness to its long historical journey.

11. Patras was first inhabited during the third millennium BC The city was founded by the conglomeration of different settlements in the area of Arhoe. During the roman period,Patras presented a significant development as the unique port to Rome After the establishment of the Modern Greek state, the city grew to be a major port to Europe, Its exports triggered a phenomenal economic development.

12. Constructed by the emperor Justinian over the ruins of Patras' Ancient Acropolis A variety of archaeological finds is displayed there toda y.

13. D ATED 160 A.C., THE O DEON WAS BANKED UP THROUGH THE YEARS, WAS REDISCOVERED IN 1889. IT WAS RESTORED IN 1952 AND, SINCE THEN, HAS BEEN HOSTING THE PERFORMANCES AND CONCERTS OF THE I NTERNATIONAL S UMMER F ESTIVAL. I N ITS YARD, YOU CAN SEE SARCOPHAGUS AND BEAUTIFUL MOSAICS OF THE R OMAN PERIOD.

14. The biggest Orthodox Church in the Balkans, Saint Andreas is of an impressive architecture. On the exact spot where Saint Andreas died, as a martyr to his faith, lies the old basilica, built on the ruins of the ancient temple of goddess Demeter.

15. O THER MONUMENTS FROM THE ROMAN PERIOD …. A QUADUCT : 6 KM LONG, P ATRAS ' AQUEDUCT EXTENDS UNTIL THE FOOT OF D ASSYLIO HILL. N ORTH C EMETERY : DATED 1 ST -2 ND CENTURY AD. S TADIUM : 300 M. LONG, IS STILL BEING EXCAVATED. N YMPHEON M EILICHOS B RIDGE : A WELL - PRESERVED BRIDGE WITH TWO BRICK ARCHES AND A BASE BUILT WITH CARVED STONES.

16. I N 1872, P ATRAS OBTAINED ITS OWN THEATRE - OPERA HOUSE, WITH AN I TALIAN STAGE AND A DOUBLE ROW OF BOXES, AROUND THE SAME PERIOD WHEN THE GREAT CAPITALS OF E UROPE OBTAINED THEIRS. T ODAY, IT HOSTS THE PERFORMANCES OF THE M UNICIPAL AND R EGIONAL T HEATRE OF P ATRAS

17. HERE IS THE PLACE WHERE PATRAS HEART BEATS DURING THE DAYS OF CELEBRATION PERIOD.THIS IS A WORKSHOP, WHERE THE FLOATS OF PATRAS CARNIVAL AND OTHER DECORATIVE ITEMS ARE MANUFACTURED AND PRESERVED IN.

18. The longest cable bridge in the world, 2.250m. long, successfully joined Western Greece and was delivered in 2004. The remarkable exhibits of the new Museum introduce the history of Patras to the public, dating from the prehistoric times to the late Roman times in order to recompose the city's historical past.

19. First Class of pupils