Patras (Demotic Greek Πάτρα, Classical Greek Πάτραι Pátrai, Latin Patrae, Ottoman Turkish Ballıbadra) is the third-largest city of Greece and the capital of the prefecture of Achaea, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers to the west of Athens. The city is built at the foothills of Mount Panachaikon, overlooking the Gulf of Patras. The Patras metropolitan area is a conurbation of a quarter of a million inhabitants. Patras has a history of four millennia, and in the Roman times it became a cosmopolitan centre of the eastern Mediterranean whilst, according to Christian tradition, it was the place of Saint Andrew's martyrdom. Dubbed as Greece's Gate to the West, Patras is an international commercial hub, while its busy port is a nodal point for trade and communication with Italy and indeed with the rest of Western Europe. The city has two Public Universities and one Technological Institute featuring a large student population and making it a major scientific centre with a field of excellence in technical education. The futuristic Rio-Antirio bridge connects Patras' eastern suburb of Rio to the town of Antirrio, essentially connecting the peninsula of Peloponnese with mainland Greece. Furthermore, the city hosts the country's greatest European-style carnival that takes place every spring. The main features of the Patras Carnival include the mamoth-sized satyrical floats and the extravagant balls and parades. A prominent, indigenous cultural scene is active in the performing of modern urban literature. The city enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate, with relatively cool yet humid summers and very mild winters. The city of Patras is the current European Capital of Culture.
