(anciently Patre), a fortified town of Greece, capital of the monarchy of Achaia and Elis, stands on the E. side of the gulf of the same name, near the entrance of that of Corinth, 10 miles S.S.W. of Lepanto. It is built partly on a plain and partly on the slope of a hill, on the summit of which stands a castle. The principal streets are broad, straight, and regular; and many of the houses are large, well-built, and surrounded with gardens, but they are generally but of one storey high, on account of the frequency of earthquakes. The only important buildings besides the castle, which is very strong, are the barracks, military hospital, and churches. An active trade is carried on with the Ionian Islands, Italy, Marseilles, &c.; the chief exports being corn, wine, oil, currants, and other fruits; silk, cotton, wool, &c. The number of vessels that cleared from the port in 1854 was 439; tonnage, 34,616; value of cargoes, L.100,570; in 1855,—vessels, 609; tonnage, 53,684; value of cargoes, L.251,994. The number of vessels that entered in 1854 was 443; tonnage, 42,573; value of cargoes, L.61,002; in 1855,—vessels, 571; tonnage, 42,914; value of cargoes, L.123,828. The harbour is not safe, being exposed to a heavy sea; but there is a mole at some distance from the town, where vessels can lie close to the wharf. The ancient Patras was founded by the Ionians; and on their expulsion from the Peloponnesus, was occupied by the Achaeans, from one of whom, called Patreus, it is said to have derived its name. In the Peloponnesian war Patre embraced the side of the Athenians; and, on the advice of Alcibiades, the city and port were connected by walls. It afterwards was one of the cities of the Achaean League, but remained comparatively insignificant till the time of Augustus. That monarch, after the battle of Actium, made Patras a Roman colony, and gave it the dominion over the neighbouring towns. In the time of Pausanias the town contained a theatre, music-hall, numerous temples, and other buildings. Patras was a dukedom under the Byzantine empire, but was sold to the Venetians in 1408, and taken by the Turks in 1446, who, though the Venetians recovered it for a short time in 1533, continued to hold it till the Greek revolution. The war which then took place considerably injured the prosperity of the town. The citadel was held for a long time by the Turks, who, after repeated assaults of the Greeks, at length capitulated in 1828. Since that period it has recovered much of its former prosperity, and is now the most important town in the Morea. Pop. 10,000.