5th+Day+-+Patras

PATRAS, city, central Greece, capital of Achaea Department, a port on the Gulf of Pátrai. Pátrai is one of the largest cities in Greece and a commercial and manufacturing center. Major industries include food processing, shipbuilding, and the manufacture of textiles, bricks, and tiles. Traditional exports are currants, wine, olive oil, citrus fruits, and sheepskins. The University of Pátrai (1964) is here. Founded by the ancient Greeks, Pátrai was one of the 12 cities of the second Achaean League. The city passed to Roman control in the 2d century bc, becoming a prosperous port and commercial center. It was also an early center of Christianity. For a short time in the 15th century the city was held by Venice, and then it passed to the Ottoman Turks. Except for a second brief period (1687-1715) of Venetian rule, the Turks controlled Pátrai until 1828, near the end of the Greek War of Independence. During the war, however, the city was completely destroyed by the Turks; it was rebuilt as a modern city in a rectangular pattern. Pop. (1991) 155,180.