Notable features of the Patras Carnival include its mammoth satirical floats and balls and parades, enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors in a Mediterranean climate.
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33 Facts About Patras
2.
Patras is famous for supporting an indigenous cultural scene active mainly in the performing arts and modern urban literature.
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3.
Patras flourished for the first time in the Post-Helladic or Mycenean period .
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4.
Ancient Patras was formed by the unification of three Mycenaean villages in modern Aroi, namely ancient Aroe, Antheia and Mesatis.
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5.
In 1408, Patras became Venetian, until it was recaptured in 1430 by the Despotate of Morea and its despot Constantine Palaiologos, who thus succeeded in recovering for the Byzantine Empire the whole of the Morea, apart from Venetian possessions.
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6.
The administration of Patras was given to George Sphrantzes, while Constantine was immediately contested by the Ottoman Empire and later, in 1449, became emperor of the Byzantine empire.
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7.
Patras remained a part of the Despotate of Morea until 1458, when it was conquered by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmet II.
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8.
Patras was one of the first cities in which the Greek Revolution began in 1821; the Ottoman garrison, confined to the citadel, held out until 1828.
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9.
Patras developed quickly into the second-largest urban centre in late-19th-century Greece.
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10.
In general, much of Patras' coastline is framed by roads and avenues running alongside; these include Dymaion Coast to the south and Iroon Polytechneiou Street to the north.
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11.
Patras' center is characterised by a composition of architectural currents and trends.
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12.
Patras is the regional capital of Western Greece and the capital of the Achaea regional unit.
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13.
Current municipality of Patras was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of 5 municipalities that made up the Patras Urban Area.
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14.
Patras suffered a severe problem of deindustrialization in the late 1980s and 1990s when a number of major productive units shut down in successive order.
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15.
The University of Patras contributed by working towards this goal, using its service and technology sectors.
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16.
In 2010, the new Infocenter of Patras was established, inside the neoclassical building of the former market "Agora Argyri", in Ayiou Andreou street.
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17.
Patras still has a large manufacturing base for a variety of industries.
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18.
Patras companies focus in dress production, the most important among them being DUR.
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19.
Patras Science Park is an incubator for many small but upcoming technology companies.
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20.
CBL Patras, a global manufacturer of specialty chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients, is a startup from a professor of the University of Patras.
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21.
Patras is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and EU Intercultural cities programme.
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22.
The International Festival of Patras takes place every summer, with a program consisting mostly of plays—both ancient drama and modern theatre—as well as various musical events.
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23.
Patras has a very strong indie rock scene with critically acclaimed bands such as Raining Pleasure, Abbie Gale, Serpentine, Doch an Doris and others.
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25.
Patras Carnival was originally introduced as ball-masquee' events in 1835 by the Italian origin merchant family of Moretti.
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26.
Patras was chosen by the European Commission to be the European Capital of Culture for the year 2006.
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27.
Patras has several sports facilities and important teams in almost all the major Greek leagues.
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29.
Patras is bypassed by the Olympia Odos motorway, which is part of the E55 route that crosses the Rio-Antirio Bridge, dominating the sealine across the Gulf of Corinth.
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30.
The central passenger train station of Patras which is a small building constructed in 1954, lies to the west of the downtown area, between Othonos-Amalias Avenue and the north port.
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31.
Patras was the first Greek city to introduce public electrified tramways in the past.
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32.
Patras is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the European Commission Intercultural cities programme.
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33.
Patras was selected as main motif for the €10 Greek Patras 2006 commemorative coin, minted in 2006.
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