thetrainfamilyWe had not heard of Patras – or Patra as the city is also called – before we decided to make a stop on our journey between Athens and the port city of Kyllini. The choice fell on Patras by chance. The city is located on the Peloponnese peninsula, 215 km west of Athens. It is beautifully located by the Gulf of Corinth. Read what the city has to offer here:
1. Rio-Antirrio Bridge
One of the city’s landmarks is the impressive Rio-Antirrio bridge. It crosses the Gulf of Corinth and connects Peloponnes with the Greek mainland. It is one of the world’s longest cable-stayed bridges and a very beautiful sight. A little funny story is that it was inaugurated the day before the Summer Olympics in 2004 and here the Olympic flame was transported over.
2. The Harbor Promenade
The children especially loved walking along the waterfront and enjoying the view of the sea. There is a good newer playground at the marina, which is east of the town. Further away from the city along the same road, you will find the good beaches. There are changing facilities and showers here. The sea gets deep quickly, so you have to be aware of that.
3. The St. Nicholas Stairway
The stairs in Agiou Nikolaou Street From the church of Agios Nikolaos, 193 steps lead up the staircase that connects the center with the upper quarters of the city. Up from the stairs, where there are cafes, there is a fantastically beautiful view of the city and the Greek mainland on the other side of the Gulf of Corinth.
4. The Cathedral of Saint Andrew
The cathedral is the largest Greek Orthodox basilica in Greece. Construction began in 1908 and was completed in 1974. The church contains the relics of the Apostle Andrew. The relics consist of a little finger, parts of Andreas’ skull and small parts of the cross on which he died. The church, which is located west of the centre, cannot be overlooked as it is huge.
5. Patras Mycenaen Park
We had not heard of this historic site until our landlord offered to drive us there. Up in the mountains, 7 km. from the center of Patras, lies an 18 acre area with 78 burial chambers! Excavations in the burial area and the nearby settlement have established that people have lived here for nearly 500 years (1500-1000 BCE). Grave number 5 must be highlighted in particular, as it contains human skeletons. Various artefacts have been found in the tombs, which can be seen at the Archaeological Museum in Patras.
For us, Patras was a really good place to stop before continuing our journey to the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. Although the city was unknown to us, we had a lovely few days there and were pleasantly surprised by the sights the city had to offer.
