Map of the city of Patras (© Road Publications)

The history of Patras begins from the prehistoric era. We know that it was inhabited during the Mycenaean period. The sweeping changes that ensued in the beginning of the 1^st millennium B.C., continued when the Achaeans arrived from Sparta, chased by the Dorians, and pushed away the Ionians, who were in turn forced to emigrate to Attica and some areas in Asia Minor.

Patreas was the founder of the city, who managed to unite the small scattered settlements in the region into one city, Patras, that rose to become the most important city of the region, dominant in the Achaean League, the statute that played a crucial role in the development of the region from the Geometric until the Hellenistic era. In 146 B.C., the city was subjugated to the Romans and the Achaean League was dissolved. Because of its location – it was the port of Peloponnese closer to Rome - the city was further developed and the Roman emperors bestowed a lot of privileges upon the city, Simultaneously, they embellished it with impressive buildings, along which were the Conservatoire and the Amphitheatre, and at the same time, fortified the Acropolis of the city within the existing ancient castle.

During the Byzantine era, the city sank slowly into obscurity, since the centre of power of Byzantium was transferred to Constantinople. The visit of Saint Andrew, the Christian apostle and its current patron saint, marked the city’s transition from paganism to Christianity.

In 1204 A.D., Patras was taken over by the Franks who founded the Principality of Achaea with its seat in the Andravida and Chlemoutsi. Patras, however, managed to develop mostly because of its weaving mills and played a crucial role in the economics of the area.

Engraving depicting Patras during the Venetian rule in 1700.

In 1460, the Turks occupied Patras and the city remained under their rule with the exception of one small interval from 1687 to 1715, when it was conquered by the Venetians. After the Greek revolution of Independence, the Turks were forced to surrender Patras over to the Greeks in 1928.

The current upper part of the city of Patras is standing right upon the ruins of the ancient city. The initial web of the city was extended around the fortress at the top of a hill, in 108 m. height. During the Ottoman domination, the city began to expand towards the harbour and was systematically inhabited after 1870. The development of the city was rapid and it climaxed into the raisin trade at the beginning of the 20^th century. In the following years, even though the importance of the city within the Greek State has been reduced, Patras remains a lively and bustling city, as it still constitutes the main entry from and to Europe – as it did in Roman times. In 2006, it was nominated Cultural Capital of Europe. 

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