Patras
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Patras is Greece's third-largest city and the regional capital of Western Greece, in the northern Peloponnese, 215 km (134 mi) west of Athens. The city is built at the foot of Mount Panachaikon, overlooking the Gulf of Patras.
View of the recently restored Roman Odeon (2015)
Night view
Patras at sunset from a hill NE of Dasyllio
Ruins of the Roman stadium
Patras Carnival
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The Patras Carnival, or Patrino karnavali, is the largest event of its kind in Greece. It has more than 180 years of history. The events begin on 17 January and last up to Clean Monday. The carnival of Patras is not a single event but a variety of events that includes balls, parades, hidden treasure hunt and the children's carnival amongst others. It climaxes in the last weekend of Carnival with the Saturday evening parade of carnival groups, the extravagant Sunday parade of floats and groups, and finally the ritual burning of the carnival king at the St. Nikolaos Street pier in the harbour of Patras. Its characteristics are spontaneity, improvisation, inspiration and volunteerism. In 2019, there were about 750.000 participants in the carnival
The Carnival floats during the Great Sunday Parade.
The Treasure Hunt groups, a Patras Carnival tradition.
Patras Carnival Float 1995
The Apollon theatre's external facade, emblematic of the Patras Carnival