The ancient Conservatoire
The Conservatoire was built in the beginning of the 2
nd century A.D.,
during the Roman era, in the western side of the castle of the city. The Conservatoire
had been interred until it was excavated in 1899. The orchestra of the Conservatoire
had a diameter of 50 m. and 11 rows of seats where 2.500 spectators could sit.
To support the orchestra a powerful supporting wall was also constructed. Several
performances take place in the ancient conservatoire during the annual International
Festival of Patras.
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| Views of the Ancient Conservatoire
of Patras |
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| Sarcophaguses in the open space of the Conservatoire |
The Conservatoire stage and auditorium |
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The castle of Patras
The castle of Patras was built in antiquity, but only a few sections of its initial
fortification remain today as later reconstructions altered critically its characteristics.
During the Byzantine period, and sometime after the disastrous earthquake of
551 A.D, Justinian fortified the castle which managed to withstand the raids
that followed in the next centuries, until 1205 when the Franks conquered it
and further fortified and extended it. Constantine Palaiologos was the ruler
of the castle from 1430 to 1460 when the Turks re- conquered and kept it under
their rule, with the exception of a brief period from 1686 to1715 that fell to
the hands of the Venetians. In 1828, the Turks delivered the castle to General
Maison of the French who, then, handed it over to the independent Greeks in 1829.
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| The castle of Patras is surrounded by the settlement
of Upper city (Ano Poli) which was once the core of the inhabitants
of Patras. |
Pieces of the ancient wall were used in
the construction of the Byzantine wall. |
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| The interior of the castle of Patras
and the open space where performances take place during
the International Festival of Patras. |
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The International Festival of Patras
Patras Cultural Development Municipal Enterprises has been organising the International
Festival of Patras since 1986 (Please see online:
http://new.depap.gr/ ). Performances take place
in the castle, where there is a temporary structure of a theatre with 640 seats,
and in the ancient conservatoire, where there is a theatre that can accommodate
for 2.500 spectators; the festival itself has been international (famous performers
from around the world participate) since 1977.
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| Performances in the castle of Patras |
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| Performances in the ancient Conservatoire |
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