Location
Conference & Cultural Centre
The centre is located almost in the centre of the University campus in the main junction of Polytexneioy and Ippocratous Streets. It provides 500 parking places and appropriate facilities for disabled persons.
The University of Patras
The University of Patras (www.upatras.gr) is a major international centre for highest tertiary education with a proven track record not only in teaching but also in research. The 22 academic departments offer a wide range of undergraduate courses leading to the Ptychio or the Diploma, as well as an expanding range of taught and research-based postgraduate degrees. Facilities for academic work are excellent and opportunities for social life are varied and exciting.
The University is located, just outside the lively city of Patras, on a self-contained campus of about 600 acres. The campus has a lot of open-spaces, tree shaded areas and Mediterranean olive groves.
It lies at the foot of Mount Panachaikos with a view over the Gulf of Corinth to the mountains of central Greece across the water. People who come to Patras, whether for a short conference or an extended study period, tend to want to stay and usually come again and again.
The City of Patras
Patras is located in the North-West of the Peloponnese and has a population of over 250 000 people. It is the regional capital of Western Greece and, as a major harbour, it functions as the main gateway for Greece towards Italy and Western Europe. With over 50 sailings to Italy per week, nearly all of Greece's trade with the rest of the EU goes through Patras. The surrounding region is an important agricultural area for Greece, with extensive production of citrus fruit, potatoes and watermelons. The area is also well-known for its vineyards, with outstanding wines being produced here. The internationally known Achaia-Claus wine company is based just outside Patras. The city offers a wide variety of cultural and sports opportunities. The municipal orchestra The Solists of Patras put on regular performances at the Municipal Theatre, which is also the home for the town's theatre company. There are also several amateur theatre groups, most notable the Agora Theatre which has a regular program of events. In the Municipal Theatre, and in the open air theatre in the Venetian Castle visiting theatres, orchestras and other performing artists make regular appearances. There is a municipal art gallery and several publicly funded private galleries in the city, which exhibit local artists and also internationally known painters and sculptors regularly.
The city is famous for its annual carnival, which occurs in February or March. During this time, many young people in Patras, including the student population of the University, get together in groups, dress up, dance in the streets, have lots of parties and finally as culmination of the festivities, take part in the annual parade. Thousands of people participate in a phantasmagoria of colourful activities.
The city is centrally located and provides easy access to some of the most important historical sites of the ancient world. To the south, just over an hour's drive away lies Olympia, the place where the ancient Olympic games took place, and in the nearby mountains the temple of Apollo at Bassae which is one of the best preserved ancient temples in Greece.
Across the waters of the Corinthian gulf lies Delphi, where the Pythia, the prophetess, would deliver her oracles all and sundry in the ancient world. In the mountains above Patras, near the town of Kalavrita, there is also an excellent ski resort with several lifts.