Area activities

Medieval Castle of Patras

In Patras, on a hill below Mount Panachaikos is the Medieval Castle of Patras, or simply Castle of Patras. The Medieval Castle of Patras was built in the 6th century AD. by the emperor Justinian in the place where the ancient acropolis of Patras was located. In fact, several of the castle's construction materials came from its ruins. The Medieval Castle of Patras occupied over 22 acres and had 6 towers, moats and bastions.The castle was a watchful guard of the wider area and successively passed through the hands of all its conquerors. Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, Turks, and even Germans settled in the castle during World War II, all of them making their own architectural interventions that can still be seen today.

Of particular importance to Patras is a statue built into the castle from Roman times, the famous "Patrinella" among the locals. According to popular tradition, the statue protected the city from epidemics, while it wept at night when a well-known resident died. Today, the Medieval Castle of Patras functions as an archaeological site and is an ideal choice to visit, both for the building and its magnificent view. throughout the region.

Rio Castle

The castle of Rio (or Kasteli of Patras or Kasteli of Moria) is located in a seaside position in Achaia in Rio. Today, next to the castle is the Rio-Antiriou Bridge, to the right and left of it the east and west piers of the ferry boats. It is used for cultural events and can be visited by tourists.

It was built by Sultan Bayezid II in 1499 on the ruins of the ancient temple of Poseidon, in just three months.

Together with the opposite castle of Antirrio and with the firepower that had controlled the sea passage, they constituted the "Little Dardanelles" for the Ottomans, in a location that the Romans called "jaws of the Corinthian".

Roman Conservatory

The Roman Conservatory of Patras is a magnificent building from Roman times that has today been reconstructed and is used for musical events. It is located to the west of the Castle, in the Upper town next to the Roman stadium and between the streets of Old Patras Germanou, Sotiriadou, Pantokratoros and Agios Georgios Square. It faces south and is covered with bricks, today its stairs are covered with marble.

The Conservatory was probably built in the years of Augustus[1]. Pausanias mentions that it was older than the Odeon of Herod of Atticus and was located next to the Roman market of the city, it was decorated brilliantly but not like Herodius who considered it more brilliant[2].