View source for Achaea

{{About|the modern Greek administrative subdivision|other uses|Achaea (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Greece place
| name                    = Achaea
| name_local              = <small>Περιφερειακή ενότητα</small><br>Αχαΐας
| type                    = regional unit
| image_skyline           = 2010 Dimi Achaias numbered.svg
| caption_skyline         = Municipalities of Achaea
| image_map               = Nomos Achaias.png
| map_caption             = Achaea within Greece
| coordinates             = {{coord|38|05|N|21|50|E|display=inline,title}}
| periph                  = [[Western Greece]]
| seat                    = [[Patras]]
| area                    = 3272 <!-- 3271.507 -->
| elevation               = 
| population              = 305979
| population_as_of        = 2021
| demonym                 = 
| postal_code             = 25x xx, 26x xx
| area_code               = 261, 269x
| licence                 = ΑΖ, AX
| website                 = {{URL|www.achaia.gr}}
}}
'''Achaea''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|k|iː|ə}}) or '''Achaia''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|k|aɪ|ə}}), sometimes transliterated from [[Greek language|Greek]] as '''Akhaia'''<ref>The spelling ''Achaea'' is the most common in English (as shown by the entries in the Britannica and Columbia encyclopedias and most dictionaries and other reference works) although this is based on an erroneous but well-established transliteration of the [[Greek language|Greek]] original (which does not have a diphthong) and in disregard of the [[Latin]] spelling (Achaia) of the related [[Achaia (Roman province)|Roman province]]. The spelling ''Achaia'' is used in English by the Greek authorities and the [[European Union]]. The transliteration ''Akhaia'' of the ([[Ancient Greek|Ancient]] and [[Modern Greek|Modern]]) Greek is sometimes used in English, for example by the Encyclopædia Britannica and the Collins English Dictionary.</ref> ({{lang|el|Αχαΐα}}, ''Akhaḯa'', {{IPA|el|axaˈia|lang}}), is one of the [[regional units of Greece]]. It is part of the [[modern regions of Greece|region]] of [[Western Greece]] and is situated in the northwestern part of the [[Peloponnese]] peninsula. The capital is [[Patras]] which is the third largest city in Greece.

==Geography==
[[File:Patras gulf.jpg|thumb|[[Gulf of Patras]]]]
[[File:Ydat-stygos.jpg|thumb|Mount [[Aroania (mountain)|Aroania]] or Chelmos.]]
[[File:Erymanthossnowcaped.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Erymanthos]]]]
[[File:Ladonas river.jpg|thumb|[[Ladon (river)|River Ladon]]]]

Achaea is bordered by [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]] to the west and southwest, [[Arcadia (regional unit)|Arcadia]] to the south, and [[Corinthia]] to the east and southeast. The [[Gulf of Corinth]] lies to its northeast, and the [[Gulf of Patras]] to its northwest. The mountain [[Panachaiko]] (1926&nbsp;m), though not the highest of Achaea, dominates the coastal area near [[Patras]]. Higher mountains are found in the south, such as [[Aroania (mountain)|Aroania]] (2341&nbsp;m) and [[Mount Erymanthos|Erymanthos]] (2224&nbsp;m). Other mountain ranges in Achaea are [[Skollis]], [[Omplos]], Kombovouni and [[Movri]]. Its main rivers ordered from west to east are the [[Larissos]], [[Tytheus]], [[Peiros]], [[Charadros]], [[Selinountas (river)|Selinountas]] and [[Vouraikos]]. Most of the forests are in the mountain ranges, though several are in the plains including the extreme west. There are grasslands around the mid-elevation areas and barren lands in the highest areas.

==Climate==
Achaea has hot summers and mild winters. Sunny days dominate during the summer months in areas near the coast, while the summer can be cloudy and rainy in the mountains. Snow is very common during the winter in the mountains of Erymanthos, Panachaiko and Aroania. Winter high temperatures are around the 10&nbsp;°C mark throughout the low-lying areas.

==Administration==
[[File:Kato-Lousi-Kampos Polje Peloponnese Greece.jpg|thumb|[[Karst]] [[Depression (geology)|depression]] (=[[Polje]]) near Kato Lousi village (Άνω_Λουσοί_Αχαΐας), north of [[Kastria]]]]
[[File:Kalavrytaview.JPG|thumb|[[Kalavryta]]]]

The regional unit Achaea is subdivided into 5 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg.|title=ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref>
*[[Aigialeia]] (2)
*[[Erymanthos (municipality)|Erymanthos]] (4)
*[[Kalavryta]] (5)
*[[Patras]] (''Patra'', 1)
*[[West Achaea]] (''Dytiki Achaia'', 3)

===Prefecture===
As a part of the [[Kallikratis Programme|2011 Kallikratis government reform]], the regional unit Achaea was created out of the former [[prefectures of Greece|prefecture]] Achaea ({{langx|el|Νομός Αχαΐας}}). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.<ref name=Kallikratis/>

{| class="wikitable"
! New municipality !! Old municipalities !! Seat
|-
| rowspan=6|[[Aigialeia]]|| [[Aigeira]] || rowspan=6|Aigio
|-
|[[Aigio]]
|-
|[[Akrata]]
|-
|[[Diakopto]]
|-
|[[Erineos]]
|-
|[[Sympoliteia (municipality)|Sympoliteia]]
|-
| rowspan=4|[[Erymanthos (municipality)|Erymanthos]]|| [[Farres]] || rowspan=4|Chalandritsa
|-
|[[Kalentzi]]
|-
|[[Leontio]]
|-
|[[Tritaia]]
|-
| rowspan=4|[[Kalavryta]]|| [[Kalavryta]] || rowspan=4|Kalavryta
|-
|[[Aroania]]
|-
|[[Kleitoria]]
|-
|[[Paia, Achaea|Paia]]
|-
| rowspan=5|[[Patras]] (''Patra'')|| [[Patras]] || rowspan=5|Patras
|-
|[[Vrachnaiika]]
|-
|[[Messatida]]
|-
|[[Paralia, Achaea|Paralia]]
|-
|[[Rio, Greece|Rio]]
|-
| rowspan=4|[[West Achaea]]<br />(''Dytiki Achaia'')|| [[Dymi, Achaea|Dymi]] || rowspan=4|Kato Achaia
|-
|[[Larissos]]
|-
|[[Movri (municipality)|Movri]]
|-
|[[Olenia]]
|}

===Provinces===
*Province of [[Aigialeia]] - [[Aigio]]
*Province of [[Kalavryta]] - Kalavryta
*Province of [[Patras]] - Patras
''Note:'' Provinces no longer hold any legal status in [[Greece]].

==History==

===Classical Antiquity===
{{Main|Achaea (ancient region)}}
[[File:Ancient peloponnese.svg|thumb|Map of ancient Peloponnese.]]

The [[Achaean League]] was a Hellenistic-era confederation of city states in Achaea, founded in 280/281 BC. It later grew until it included most of [[Peloponnese]], much reducing the [[Kingdom of Macedon|Macedonian]] rule in the area.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

After Macedon's defeat by the Romans in the early 2nd century BC, the League was able finally to defeat a heavily weakened [[Sparta]] and take control of the entire Peloponnese. However, as the [[ancient Rome|Roman]] influence in the area grew, the league erupted into an open revolt against Roman domination, in what is known as [[Achaean War]]. The [[Achaeans (tribe)|Achaeans]] were defeated at the [[Battle of Corinth (146 BC)|Battle of Corinth]] (146 BC), and the League was dissolved by the Romans.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In AD 51/52, [[Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus]] was proconsul of Achaea,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Paul |date=October 26, 2021 |title=Religious 'Slogans' in 1 Corinthians: Wit, Wisdom, and the Quest for Status in a Roman Colony |url=https://academic.oup.com/jts/article-abstract/72/1/125/6410791?login=false |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=academic.oup.com}}</ref> and is portrayed (under the name "Gallio") in the book of the [[Acts of the Apostles]], in the Bible, as presiding over the [[Claudius' expulsion of Jews from Rome#Acts of the Apostles|trial of the Apostle Paul]] in [[Ancient Corinth#Biblical Corinth|Corinth]] ({{bibleverse|Acts|18:12-17}}).

===Medieval history===
[[File:Byzantine Greece ca 900 AD.svg|thumb|right|Byzantine Greece, ca. 900 AD]]
[[File:Greece in 1210.svg|thumb|right|Map of Frankish Greece with the [[Principality of Achaea]].]]
Achaea remained a province of the [[Byzantine Empire]] after the [[fall of the Western Roman Empire]]. In the 6th and 7th centuries, [[Early Slavs|Slavs]] invaded Greece and reached the Peloponnese, settling there. The coastal cities remained largely under Byzantine control, and a [[Siege of Patras (805 or 807)|Siege of Patras]] in 805/807 failed. By the end of the 9th century, the whole peninsula was firmly under Byzantine control again, forming the [[Theme of the Peloponnese]]. 

After the [[Fourth Crusade]] several new [[Crusader states]] were founded in Greece. One of these was the [[Principality of Achaea]], founded in 1205, which like the Roman province covered a much larger area than the Achaea region. The Achaea region was among the core territories of the Principality, with four baronies: the extensive [[Barony of Patras]], the [[Barony of Vostitsa]], the [[Barony of Chalandritsa]], and the [[Barony of Kalavryta]]. Patras, under the powerful [[Latin Archbishopric of Patras]], over time became a semi-autonomous domain under the protection of Venice and the Holy See. Although Kalavryta was lost to the [[Byzantine Greeks]] already by the end of the 13th century, the other baronies survived until the Principality of Achaea was conquered by the Byzantine Empire in 1430, and became part of the [[Despotate of the Morea]].

The Despotate of the Morea fell to the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1460. As a part of the [[Morean War]], the [[Republic of Venice]] captured Achaea in 1687 and [[Kingdom of the Morea|held it]] until 1715, when the Ottomans [[Ottoman reconquest of the Morea|recaptured]] the Peloponnese. Under Ottoman rule, Achaea was part of the [[Morea Eyalet]].

===Modern history===
In the [[Greek War of Independence]], Aigio was one of the first cities to be liberated by the Greeks and all of Achaea was liberated by the end of 1821. Achaea produced several heroes including [[Konstantinos Kanaris|Kanaris]], [[Andreas Zaimis|Zaimis]] and [[Benizelos Roufos|Roufos]] and prime ministers of Greece including [[Andreas Michalakopoulos]] as well as some head of states.

In the first administrative subdivision of independent Greece, Achaea was part of the [[Achaea and Elis Prefecture]]. This was divided into the [[prefectures of Greece|prefectures]] of Achaea and [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]] in 1899. Achaea and Elis were reunited in 1909, and split again in 1930.

Achaea saw an influx of refugees that arrived from [[Asia Minor]] during the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)|Greco Turkish War]] of 1919–1922. Tens of thousands were relocated to their camps in the suburbs of Patras and a few villages mainly within the coastline. One of the camps was named [[Prosfygika]].

==Population==
[[File:Patras from the fortress.jpg|thumb|[[Patras]]]]

Achaea today has about one-third of the population of the Peloponnese. [[Patras]], the capital of Achaea, is the third largest city in Greece, behind [[Athens]] and [[Thessaloniki]]. Two-thirds of the Achaean population live near Patras, and more than half within the city limits. The main industrial areas are around Patras.

===Main towns and cities===
{{See also|List of settlements in Achaea}}
The main cities and towns of Achaea are (ranked by 2021 census population of the town proper):
*[[Patras]] 169,886
*[[Aigio]] 19,857
*[[Kato Achaia]] 7,689

==Culture==
[[File:AgiaLavra.jpg|thumb|[[Agia Lavra]] monastery]]

The monastery [[Agia Lavra]] is situated a few kilometres west of [[Kalavryta]] on the top of a hill. 12 to 20&nbsp;km east, is [[Cave Lakes]], with lakes inside. The length is around 300 to 500 m.

The mountain hosts the most modern Greek telescope, named Aristarchus (after the ancient Greek astronomer - [[Aristarchus of Samos]]) and operated by the [[National Observatory of Athens]]. A narrow gauge railway track runs for 30&nbsp;km, mainly as a tourist attraction. The track begins near Kalavryta and ends off Diakopto.

==Economy==
Patras is one of the main industrial and commerce centers in Greece. Temeni is a place where the spring water Avra (Άυρα) is manufactured. It is owned by [[Tria Epsilon]], a division of [[The Coca-Cola Company]] and a parent. There is a small oil refinery near Rio. Athenian brewery has the largest production facility of the company in Patra.

==Transport==

===Roads===
The main highways are:
*[[Ionia Odos]] (A5, part of E55): [[Rio, Greece|Rio]] - [[Antirrio]] - [[Arta, Greece|Arta]] - [[Ioannina]]
*[[Greek National Road 8]], old road [[Athens]] - [[Corinth]] - Rio - [[Patras]]
*[[Greek National Road 8A]] (part of E55 and E65): Athens - Corinth - Rio - Patras
*[[Greek National Road 9]] (part of E55): Patras - [[Pyrgos, Elis|Pyrgos]] - [[Kyparissia]] - [[Pylos]]
*[[Greek National Road 31]]: [[Aigio]] - [[Kalavryta]]
*[[Greek National Road 33]]: Patras - [[Tritaia]] - [[Lampeia]] - [[Levidi|Vlacherna]]

===Bus===
Intercity bus transport is provided by [[KTEL (Greece)|KTEL]] Achaias. The main bus terminal is in the city of Patras.

===Rail===
Achaea is served by both the Patras Suburban Railway on the [[Patras–Kyparissia railway|Patras–Kyparissia line]] to [[Patras railway station|Patras]] and [[Athens Suburban Railway]] on the [[Athens Airport–Patras railway|Athens Airport–Patras line]] from [[Aigio railway station|Aigio]] to [[Athens railway station|Athens]]. Both lines, as yet, do not meet.

==Communications==

===Newspapers, fanzines and others===

====Current newspapers====
*''[[Achagiotika Nea]]'' - Kato Achaia
*''[[Allagi (newspaper)|Allagi]]'' - Patras
*''[[Elliniki Dimokratia (newspaper)|Elliniki Dimokratia]]'' - Patras
*''[[Epi ta proso]]'' - Patras
*''[[Evdomada (Patras)|Evdomada]]'' - Patras
*''[[Filodimos]]'' - [[Aigio]]
*''[[Frouros tis Anatolikis Aigialeias]]'' - Akrata and eastern Aigaleia
*''[[Ta Gegonota tis Achaias]]'' - Achaea
*''[[I Gnomi]]'' - [[Patras]]
*''[[Imera]]'' - Patras<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imeranews.gr/ |title=Home |website=imeranews.gr}}</ref>
*''[[Imerisios Kyrix]]'' - Patras
*''Kosmos tis Patras'' - Patras
*''[[Paraliaki]]'' - Patras
*''[[Patraiki Evdomada]]'' - Patras
*''[[Politis ton Patron]]'' - Patras - political
*''[[Proodos (newspaper)|Proodos]]'' - Patras
*''[[Proti tis Aigaleias]]'' - Aigio and Aigaleia
*''[[Simerini (newspaper)|Simerini]]'' - Patras
*''[[Splats]]'' - a fanzine based in Patras
*''[[Sport Week]]'' - Patras - sports
*''[[Sportivo west]]'' - Patras - sports
*''[[Styx (newspaper)|Styx]]'' - Akrata
*''[[Symvoulos Epocheiriseon]]'' - Patras

====Ceased and defunct newspapers====
*[[Achaikos Kyrix]] - an older newspaper of Patras
*[[Tachydromos tis Anatolis]] - Patras, one of the few newspapers that were only published in [[French language|French]]

===Radio===
*[[ERA Patras]] - Rio
*[[Super B (TV channel)|Super B]] - Patras
*[[Top FM (Greece)|Top FM]] - 93 FM
*[[Ionion FM]] - 95.8 FM
*[[Radio Gamma]] - 96 FM
*[[MFM (Greece)|MFM]]
*[[Radio Aigio]] - 99.2 FM
*[[You FM (Greece)|You FM]] - 100.1 FM (launched in 2006/2007)
*[[Mojo FM (Patras)|Mojo FM]] - 107.9 FM

===Television===
*[[Achaia Channel]] - Patrast
*[[Patra TV]] - Patras
*[[Super B (TV channel)|Super B]] - Patras
*[[Tele Con]] - extinct
*[[Tele Time]] - regional
*[[AXION]] - Aigio

==Companies==
*[[Achaiki]]
*[[Kronos Supermarkets]] - Patras

==Sports==
[[File:Pampeloponisiako Olympic Stadium(1).jpg|thumb|[[Pampeloponnisiako Stadium]]]]

There are two skiing resorts, one on the Panachaicus west of the mountain top (elevation around 1700 m) east of Patras, it will be Nafpaktos's closest because of the new bridge (mid-2004) and the other on Aroania, sometimes still called [[Chelmos]], near Kalavrita. It is Kalavrita's closest resort.

===Sporting teams===
Division rankings were as of the [[2005-06 in Greek football|2005-06 season]] for most teams, for [[football (soccer)]], they are run by the [[Achaea Football Clubs Association]]:

;Teams with multiple sporting clubs
*[[Panegialios F.C.]] - [[Aigio]] - second division
*[[Achaios Saravali]] Patras - [[Saravali]] - fourth division
*[[Anagennisi/Aias Sympoliteia]] - [[Rododafni]]
*[[Apollon Patras]], A1 Basketleague
*[[Atromitos Patras]] - fourth division
*[[Diakopto (sporting club)|Diakopto AC]] - [[Diakopto]] - fourth division
*[[Fostiras Ovrias FC]] - Ovrya, fourth division
*Iraklis Patras - Patras, fourth division
*[[NO Patras]] - Patras, A2 League/Water polo
*[[NE Patras]] - Patras, A2 League/Water polo
*[[Olympiakos Aigio]] - [[Aigio]], fourth division
*[[Olympiakos Kamares]] - [[Kamares (Achaia), Greece|Kamares]] - fourth division
*[[Olympiakos Patras]] - Patras - fourth division
*[[Ormi Patras]] - Patras, A1 League/ Women's Handball
*[[Panachaiki]] - Patras, third division
*[[E.A. Patras]] - Patras, third division/Volleyball
*[[Spartakos Ovrya]] - Ovrya - third division (as of 2007)
*[[Thyella Patras F.C.]] - Patras, third division
*[[A.P.S. Zavlani]] - fourth division

;Basketball only
*[[Promitheas Patras B.C.]]
*[[A.O. Skagiopouleio]]

;Defunct and historic teams
*[[Lefkos Asteras]] - Patras
*[[Thriamvos Patras]] - Patras, now part of [[NE Patras]]

==Notable people==
*[[Actor (mythology)|Actor]], mythological legend
*[[Alexon]], ancient figure
*[[Timoleon Ambelas]], a writer
*[[Anchialus]], mythological legend
*[[Dimitrios Andrikopoulos-Boukaouris]], Mayor of Patras
*[[Antheia]], mythological legend
*[[Argyra (mythology)|Argyra]], mythological legend
*[[Autonous]], ancient figure
*[[Bolina]], ancient figure
*[[Bryson of Achaea]], ancient figure
*[[Anastasios Charalambis]] General and [[List of Prime Ministers of Greece|Prime Minister]] for one day in 1922.
*[[Vasileios Christopoulos]], an artist
*[[Danielis]], ancient figure
*[[Kostas Davourlis]] Footballer of Panachaiki
*[[Theodoros Deligiannis]] a Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Ioannis Diakidis]]
*[[Rena Dor]], actress
*[[Dymas]], ancient figure
*[[Eperatus]], ancient figure
*[[Eurypylus]]
*[[Spyros Fokas]], an actor
*[[Asimakis Fotilas]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Panagiotakis Fotilas]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Giorgos Giannias]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Dimitrios Gounaris]] a Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Helike (mythology)|Helike]], ancient queen
*[[Ion (mythology)|Ion]], mythological legend
*[[Antonios Kalamogdartis]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Athanasios Kanakaris-Roufos]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Panagiotis Karatzas]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Kostas Katsouranis]] Footballer - European Champion (Euro 2004)
*[[Konstantinos Konstantopoulos]] a [[Mayor of Patras]] and Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Andreas Kontogouris]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Nikolaos Kontopoulos]]
*[[Christos Laskaris]]
*[[Afroditi Laoutari]], an actress
*[[Dimitrios Maximos]]
*[[Vassilis Makris]], an artist
*[[Memos Makris]], an artist
*[[Dimitrios Maximos]] a Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Andreas Michalakopoulos]] a Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Andreas Mikroutsikos]]
*[[Betty Moschona]], an actress
*[[Molurus]], ancient figure
*[[Thanos Mikroutsikos]], composer, former Minister of Culture
*[[Myscellus]]
*[[Kostis Palamas]] national Greek poet
*[[George Papandreou (senior)]] a Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Georgios Papadopoulos]] Leader of the military [[Regime of the Colonels|junta]]
*[[Georgios Papandreou (historian)]], an unrelated historian and linguist
*[[Anagnostis Petimezas]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Konstantinos Petimezas]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Konstantis Petimezas]], a revolutionary leader
*[[Nikolaos Petimezas (elder)]]
*[[Angelos Roufos]]
*[[Benizelos Roufos]] a Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Ioannis Roufos]]
*[[Selemnus (god)|Selemnus]], mythological legend
*[[Panagiotis Skagiopoulos]]
*[[Sokratis Skartsis]], poet
*[[Konstantinos Skourletis]], mayor of Patras
*[[Markos Sklivaniotis]]
*[[Socrates of Achaea]], ancient figure
*[[Sostratus of Dyme]], an ancient figure
*[[Sostratus of Pellene]], an ancient Greek Olympian
*[[Konstantinos Stefanopoulos]]  [[List of Presidents of Greece|President of Greece]]
*[[Epameinondas Thomopoulos]], an artist
*[[Dimitrios Tofalos]] Olympic Champion
*[[Spyridon Vassiliadis]], poet
*[[Xenofon Verykios]]
*[[Dimitrios Votsis (Mayor of Patras)|Dimitrios Votsis]], mayor of Patras
*[[Spyros Vrettos]], poet
*[[Alexandros Zaimis]] a Prime Minister and President of Greece

==See also==
*[[Achaea (constituency)]]

==References==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{EB1911 poster|Achaea}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite book|last=Bunson|first=Matthew|year=1994|title=Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire|location=New York|publisher=Facts on File Inc.}}

{{Kallikratis-West Greece}}
{{Prefectures of Greece}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Achaea| ]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Greece]]
[[Category:Regional units of Western Greece]]
[[Category:Peloponnese]]