St. Andrew's Church
St. Andrew's Church in Patras, or the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Patras, is a Christian basilica located on the western side of downtown Patras. Along with the nearby old church of St. Andrew, it serves as a pilgrimage site for Christians from around the world. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew, the first-called apostle of Christ. It is considered the largest Orthodox church in Greece and one of the largest in the Balkans. However, according to some opinions, it is the second-largest Orthodox church in Greece, after the Church of Saint Pantaleon in Acharnes, Athens.
Pantocrator Church
This is a small replica of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. An impressive church built in 900 AD. It is located in Patras and is a true gem, the majestic Pantocrator Church (the Almighty), which is considered an exact replica of Hagia Sophia. If you are in the area, you should definitely visit this church. The Pantocrator Church of Patras was built on the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to Zeus. It is the first Byzantine-style cathedral of Patras. It has, like Hagia Sophia, beautiful and impressive domes made of lead.
Patras Castle
Patras Castle is an ancient fortress of the city and is now a well-preserved monument and one of its landmarks. It was built on the ruins of the ancient Acropolis in the second half of the 6th century AD by Justinian, specifically after the destructive earthquake of 551, using materials from pre-Christian buildings for the defense of the area and its inhabitants.
Rio–Antirio Bridge
The Rio-Antirio Bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, completed in 2004, and a landmark of 21st-century Greece. It has significantly improved the movement of people and goods in Western Greece. With the completion of the project, the vision of Greece’s then Prime Minister, Charilaos Trikoupis, to bridge the narrow sea passage between Rio and Antirio, which was proposed over a hundred years ago, became a reality.
Kalavryta
Kalavryta is a mountain town in the Achaea region. It is located on the Aroania Mountains (Chelmos) at an altitude of 735 meters. The Odontotos Railway from Diakopto to Kalavryta is a tourist attraction. The train can "climb" the steep inclines of the land, passing through areas of unique sightseeing interest. The journey lasts about an hour, starting from Diakopto, crossing the Vouraikos Gorge, passing through the village of Zachlorou, and ending in Kalavryta. The 22 km journey is traveled at speeds ranging from 30 to 40 km/h on the regular track and 6 to 15 km/h on the cogwheel section.
Monastery of Megalo Spileo
The Monastery is located ten kilometers northeast of Kalavryta, near the road that connects the Patras-Athens National Road with Kalavryta. It is built in the opening of a large natural cave (from which it takes its name) in the mountain range of Chelmos, above the steep gorge of the Vouraikos River, at an altitude of approximately 900 meters, and near the village of Kato Zachlorou. Perfectly harmonized with the wild and impressive landscape of the area, the eight-story complex of the monastery captivates even the most indifferent visitor. The main church of the monastery, carved into the rock, is a cross-shaped temple, with two narthexes. The main church has murals from 1653, remarkable marble decorations on the floor, a wooden sculpted chancel, etc., while the murals in the narthex date back to the early 19th century.
Ancient Olympia
In the western Peloponnese, in the beautiful valley of the Alfeios River, flourished the most glorified sanctuary of ancient Greece, dedicated to Zeus, the father of the gods. It spreads over the southwestern slopes of the forested Kronion Hill, between the Alfeios and Kladeos rivers, which converge in this area. Despite its isolated location near the western coast of the Peloponnese, Olympia was established as the most important religious and athletic center in Greece. Here, the greatest games of ancient Greece, the Olympic Games, were born, held every four years in honor of Zeus, a tradition with nationwide significance that has lasted from antiquity to the present day. The origins of the worship and the mythical contests held in Olympia are lost in the depths of time. The local myths about the powerful king of the area, the famous Pelops, and the river god Alfeios, reveal the strong connections of the sanctuary with both the East and the West.
Delphi
Delphi was an ancient Greek city where the most important oracle of the ancient Greek world operated. The city is mentioned from Homeric times as Pytho. In the early historical period, it was one of the cities of ancient Phocis, but gradually its role grew and it became a Panhellenic center and a sacred city for the ancient Greeks. It was also the center of the Delphic Amphictyony. Delphi maintained its important position until the end of the 4th century AD, when the operation of the oracle was permanently ended by an edict from Emperor Theodosius I. In the following centuries, the city declined and was definitively abandoned during the Slavic invasions.
Ancient Epidaurus
Epidaurus is the most important ancient site dedicated to the god Asclepius. The city was located where today's Pidhavros or Old Epidaurus (Ancient Epidaurus) is, about 13 kilometers from its Asclepius sanctuary. Its sanctuary is found in the area of the present-day town of Ligourio (Municipality of Asclepius, Municipality of Epidaurus) in the Peloponnese, in the Argolis region, about 30 km from Nafplion, 20 km from New Epidaurus, and around 13 km from Old Epidaurus. Since 1988, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Acropolis of Athens
On the rocky hill of the Acropolis, which dominates the center of modern Athens, stood the most important and grandiose sanctuary of the ancient city, primarily dedicated to its patron goddess, Athena. The Acropolis is associated with the most significant myths of ancient Athens, the major religious festivals, the oldest worships of the city, and some key events in its history. The monuments of the Acropolis, harmoniously combined with the natural environment, are unique masterpieces of ancient architecture, representing pioneering relationships between rhythms and trends of classical art, influencing intellectual and artistic creation for many centuries afterward. The 5th-century BC Acropolis reflects the greatness, power, and wealth of Athens during its greatest flourishing, the "Golden Age" of Pericles.