# Patras

> city in Greece

**Wikidata**: [Q133123](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133123)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patras)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/patras

## Summary

Patras is a place in Greece[1]. It has a population of 174k as of 2021[2]. The elevation of Patras is 10.

## Summary
Patras is a big city in Greece, specifically categorized as a large human settlement. It serves as the capital of the West Greece Region, the Achaea Regional Unit, and the Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian Islands. Located on the Gulf of Patras, the city has a population of 173,600 as of the 2021 census.

## Key Facts
- **Country:** Greece
- **Instance of:** Big city, City
- **Native Name:** Πάτρα
- **Population:** 173,600 (2021 census); other recorded populations include 168,530 (2001), 158,667 (1991), and 79,014 (1951).
- **Area:** 125.4 square kilometres
- **Elevation:** 10 metres above sea level
- **Coordinates:** 38.25°N, 21.7333°E
- **Capital Of:** West Greece Region, Achaea Regional Unit, Municipality of Patras
- **Patron Saint:** Andrew the Apostle
- **Head of Government:** Konstantinos Peletidis (since 2014)
- **Licence Plate Code:** ΑX, AZ
- **Local Dialing Code:** 2610
- **UN/LOCODE:** GRGPA
- **Website:** https://e-patras.gr

## FAQs
**What is the geographical location of Patras?**
Patras is located in Greece within the Municipality of Patras (since 1913) and the Patras Municipal Unit. It sits next to the Gulf of Patras at an elevation of 10 metres, with coordinates 38.25° latitude and 21.7333° longitude.

**What are the demographic trends for Patras?**
The city has seen population growth from 79,014 residents in 1951 to 173,600 in the 2021 census. Intermediate censuses recorded 158,667 residents in 1991 and 168,530 in 2001.

**Who is the leader of Patras?**
The current head of government is Konstantinos Peletidis, who assumed office in 2014.

**What historical and cultural significance does the city hold?**
Patras is named after the mythological figure Patreus. It is the seat of the Saint Andrew the Apostle, its patron saint. Historically, it was located within the Despotate of the Morea until 1458 and has been the site of seven distinct Sieges of Patras.

**Which international cities are twinned with Patras?**
Patras maintains twinning relationships with over 20 cities globally, including Banja Luka (since 1995), Limassol (since 2001), Saint-Étienne (since 1990), Lutsk (since 2013), Kaliningrad (since 2015), and others such as Ancona, Bari, and Savannah.

## Why It Matters
As the capital of the West Greece Region and the Achaea Regional Unit, Patras serves as a critical administrative and population center in Greece. Its historical depth is evidenced by its continuous habitation and administrative shifts, from the Despotate of the Morea to the modern Municipality of Patras. The city's role as a cultural hub is highlighted by its extensive representation across 99 sitelinks in various languages and its inclusion in major encyclopedic works such as the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition) and Brockhaus and Efron. The presence of the relics of Saint Andrew the Apostle further elevates its status as a religious destination.

## Notable For
- Being the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian Islands.
- A history of significant military conflicts, evidenced by seven recorded "Sieges of Patras."
- Extensive global connectivity through sister-city agreements with major cities like Vilnius, Split, and Kharkiv.
- Being named after Patreus, a figure from antiquity.
- High digital presence with identifiers across major knowledge bases including VIAF, GND, GeoNames, and MusicBrainz.
- Serving as a subject in numerous historical encyclopedias, including Nordisk familjebok and Sytin Military Encyclopedia.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Patras is classified as a big city and a large human settlement located in Greece. It covers an area of 125.4 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 10 metres above sea level. The city is situated on the coordinates 38.25°N, 21.7333°E, positioned next to the Gulf of Patras.

Administratively, the city serves as the capital for multiple jurisdictions:
- West Greece Region
- Achaea Regional Unit
- Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian Islands
- Municipality of Patras

It is located within the Municipality of Patras (dating back to 1913) and the Patras Municipal Unit. Historically, it was located in the Despotate of the Morea until 1458.

### Demographics
According to the resident population census, Patras has maintained a substantial population over the last century:
- **2021:** 173,600 (Census)
- **2011:** 167,446 (Resident population)
- **2001:** 168,530 (Greek census 2001)
- **1991:** 158,667 (Resident population)
- **1951:** 79,014 (De facto population)

### Governance and Infrastructure
The city's local administration is led by Konstantinos Peletidis, who has served as the head of government since 2014.
Infrastructure identifiers for the city include:
- **Postal Codes:** 26221, 26223, 26225, 26331, 26334, 26441, 26442
- **Licence Plate Codes:** ΑX and AZ
- **Local Dialing Code:** 2610
- **Official Website:** https://e-patras.gr

### Etymology and Culture
The city is named after Patreus. Its native and official name is Πάτρα. It is also widely recognized by aliases including Patra, Patrai, Patrae, Patrás, Pátra, and various translations in Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Korean.

The city venerates Andrew the Apostle as its patron saint.

### International Relations (Twin Towns)
Patras is twinned with numerous administrative bodies across the world. Formalized relationships include:
- **Banja Luka** (since 1995)
- **Saint-Étienne** (since 1990)
- **Limassol** (since Sept 2001)
- **Lutsk** (since Sept 2013)
- **Kaliningrad** (since March 2015)

Other twin cities include Aleksinac, Ancona, Byblos, Craiova, Famagusta, Focșani, Brindisi, Bari, Bydgoszcz, Gjirokastër, Reggio Calabria, Chișinău, Savannah, Debrecen, Wuxi, Vilnius, Split, Ohrid, Kharkiv, and the City of Canterbury.

### Identifiers and Classifications
Patras holds a vast array of identifiers across international databases:
- **Wikidata:** Q3059
- **GeoNames:** 255683
- **VIAF:** 129029351
- **GND (German National Library):** 4115867-2
- **Library of Congress:** n82106250
- **UN/LOCODE:** GRGPA
- **MusicBrainz Area ID:** 6a632174-1e13-49c6-9a2a-82d7641a6929
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France:** 13505965q
- **Facebook Location ID:** 106070886100190
- **BBC Things ID:** 646d61c9-84a2-4d39-9259-dcf07afd47cb
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID:** 62221032
- **U.S. National Archives Identifier:** 10045691

It is also cataloged in numerous encyclopedia IDs, including Encyclopædia Britannica (place/Patrai), Treccani (patrasso), and the Encyclopaedia of Islam (balyabadra).

### Historical and Descriptive Sources
The entity is described by or included in several major historical reference works:
- *Nordisk familjebok*
- *Otto's encyclopedia*
- *Sytin Military Encyclopedia*
- *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*
- *Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*
- *The Nuttall Encyclopædia* (listed as Patras)
- *Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition*
- *Russian translation of Lübker's Antiquity Lexicon*

### Media and Categories
The city has a Wikipedia title in numerous languages (including English, Greek, French, German, etc.) and maintains a Commons gallery and category under the name "Patras." The main topic category is "Category:Patras," with related categories for people born in, dying in, or associated with the city, as well as views of the city.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://www.patrasevents.gr/article/303087-i-lista-me-tis-23-adelfopoiimenes-poleis-tis-patras-iparxei-ousia-omos)
3. [Source](https://www.banjaluka.rs.ba/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Strategija_razvoja_turizma.pdf)
4. [Source](https://www.limassol.org.cy/el/didimopoiimenes-poleis)
5. [Source](http://www.saint-etienne.fr/sites/default/files/Les%20jumelages.pdf)
6. [Source](https://www.lutskrada.gov.ua/en/pages/pobratymy-lutska)
7. [Source](http://old.lutskrada.gov.ua/en/actual/partner-cities)
8. [Source](https://www.debrecen.hu/hu/debreceni/testvervarosok/patrasz)
9. [Source](https://greekreporter.com/2015/04/01/russian-sailing-ship-docks-in-patras-for-twinning-with-kaliningrad/)
10. BnF authorities
11. Virtual International Authority File
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. Czech National Authority Database
14. MusicBrainz
15. 2021 Greek census
16. Greek census 1951
17. GeoNames
18. BBC Things
19. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/gr.htm)
20. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
21. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/balyabadra)
22. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Patras-4Y33A)
23. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/d2f7eaee-fa1e-41e7-9a4b-4d0dba066349)
24. museum-digital