View source for Rio, Greece

{{Redirect|Rhium|the town of ancient Messenia|Rhium (Messenia)}}
{{Redirect|Rhion|the spider genus|Rhion (spider)}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
 |name = Rio
 |name_local = Ρίο 
|type = municipal unit
|image_map = DE Riou.svg
|map_caption = Location within the regional unit
|periph = [[Western Greece]]
|periphunit         = [[Achaea]]
|municipality = [[Patras]]
 |pop_municunit = 14219
 |pop_community = 5430
 |population_as_of = 2021
 |area_municunit  =  98.983
 |elevation = 40
 |coordinates        = {{coord|38|18|05|N|21|46|55|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 |postal_code = 265 xx
 |area_code = 2610
 |licence = ΑΧ
 |website = 
 |image_skyline      =
 |caption_skyline    = Rio-Antirrio bridge
 |city_flag          = 
 |city_seal          = 
 |districts          =  
}}
{{Special characters}}

'''Rio''' ({{langx|el|Ρίο}}, ''Río'', [[ancient Greek|formerly]] {{lang|grc|Ῥίον}}, ''Rhíon''; [[Latin]]: ''Rhium'') is a town in the suburbs of Patras and a former [[Communities and Municipalities of Greece|municipality]] in [[Achaea]], [[Western Greece]], [[Greece]]. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality [[Patras]], of which it is a municipal unit.<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q.|title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref> The municipal unit has an area of 98.983&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf|publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece|title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)|language=el}}</ref> The municipal unit had a population of 14,219 in 2021. The campus of the [[University of Patras]] and the Casino Rio is located in Rio.

== Geography ==

Rion is the northernmost municipal unit of the [[Peloponnese]] peninsula. It stretches along the southeastern coast of the [[Gulf of Patras]], about 7&nbsp;km northeast of Patras city centre. The nearby Strait of Rio, crossed by the [[Rio–Antirrio bridge]], separates the Gulf of Patras from the [[Gulf of Corinth]] to the east. The town is dominated by the [[Panachaiko]] mountain to the southeast.

==Town layout==

The town centre is also known as ''Agios Georgios Riou''. This is where the Rio railway station, on the line from Patras to Corinth, is located. The quarter [[Kastellokampos]] lies to the southwest of the centre. The ferry terminals, with services to [[Antirrio]], are in the north, on both sides of the Rio–Antirrio bridge. There is a large fortress with bastions next to the bridge. The campus of the [[University of Patras]] and the hospital lie in the southeast, across the [[Greek National Road 8A]]. There are sandy beaches along the coast, and a port north of town centre.

===Subdivisions===
The municipal unit Rio is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):
*[[Agios Vasileios, Achaea|Agios Vasileios]]
*[[Aktaio]]
*[[Ano Kastritsi]]
*[[Arachovitika]] (Arachovitika, Kato Arachovitika)
*[[Argyra, Greece|Argyra]]
*[[Drepano, Achaea|Drepano]]
*[[Kato Kastritsi]] (Kato Kastritsi, Magoula)
*[[Pititsa]]
*[[Platani, Achaea|Platani]]
*[[Psathopyrgos]] (Psathopyrgos, Kato Rodini)
*'''Rio'''
*[[Sella, Greece|Sella]]

== History ==

The name ''Rio'' (and its older form ''Rhion'') derives from the [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|ῥίον}} (''rhion''), generally meaning "jutting part",<ref>{{LSJ|r(i/on|ῥίον|ref}}.</ref> perhaps from {{lang|grc|ῥίς}} (''rhis''), meaning "nose", but also "spur of land".<ref>{{LSJ|r(i/s|ῥίς|shortref}}.</ref> The earliest attested form of the word is the [[Mycenaean Greek]] {{lang|gmy|𐀪𐀍}}, ''ri-jo'', written in [[Linear B]] syllabic script.<ref>Found on, among others, the [[Pylos|PY]] An 1 tablet. [[Cf.]] {{lang|gmy|𐀪𐀍𐀜}}, ''ri-jo-no'', and variant forms, thought to be possibly derived from ''ri-jo''  plus the ''*-i-jo'' (perhaps -{{lang|grc|ίων}}) ethnic suffix. {{cite web|url=http://www.palaeolexicon.com/ShowWord.aspx?Id=16888|title=The Linear B word ri-jo}} {{cite web|url=http://www.palaeolexicon.com/ShowWord.aspx?Id=17075|publisher=Palaeolexicon. Word study tool of ancient languages|title=The Linear B word ri-jo-no}} {{cite web|url=http://minoan.deaditerranean.com/resources/linear-b-sign-groups/ri/ri-jo/|title=ri-jo}} {{cite web|url=http://minoan.deaditerranean.com/resources/linear-b-sign-groups/ri/ri-jo-no/|title=ri-jo-no|work=Minoan Linear A & Mycenaean Linear B|last=Raymoure|first=K.A.|publisher=Deaditerranean}} {{cite web|title=PY 1 An + fr. + fr. (1)|website=DĀMOS: Database of Mycenaean at Oslo|url=https://www2.hf.uio.no/damos/Index/item/chosen_item_id/4323|publisher=[[University of Oslo]]}}</ref>

The site of Rio has been a strategic point since antiquity. Early 19th century, there stood an old Turkish castle (the "[[Castle of the Morea]]") at the cape, with a small settlement outside its walls.<ref>{{cite book   | last = Leake  | first = William Martin | author-link = William Martin Leake  | title = Travels in the Morea, Volume 2  | publisher = [[John Murray (publishing house)|John Murray]] | location  = London  | year = 1830  | pages = 148–150}}</ref>

== Government ==

The mayors of the municipality were:

* Vasileios Zervas (1998–2006)
* Christos Liakopoulos (2006–2010)

== Population ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Municipal district !! Municipality
|-
| 1981 || 2,012 || - 
|-
| 1991 || 3,496 ||  10,280  
|-
| 2001 || 5,231 || 13,291 
|-
| 2011 || 5,252 || 14,622
|-
| 2021 || 5,430 || 14,219
|}

== Transport ==

=== Road ===
[[Highways in Greece|Highway 8]] (Elefsina - Rio) passes through from Rio. It is also the terminus of [[Greek National Road 8|National Road 8]] (Old National Road Athens-Corinth-Patras). The town is served by urban transport buses with lines 6 and 9 and the Patras Suburban Railway, via the "Rio" stop & the " Kastellokampos - University/Hospital" bus line .

=== Rail ===
[[Rio railway station|Rio Railway Station]], opened as a station in 1887 and since 2010 served by the local trains to Agios Andreas and [[Patras]] by [[Patras Suburban Railway|Suburban Railway of Patras]]. Rio Station is currently under reconstruction as part of the construction of the new Athens-Patras railway line, which (when finished) will connect the area with [[Athens]]. In order to ensure these needs, a new temporary station has been operating since 26 March 2019, at the height of Zaimi & Iroon Polytechneiou streets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Πάτρα: Μεταφέρεται ο σταθμός του Προαστιακού στο Ρίο – Πώς διαμορφώνονται τα δρομολόγια |url=https://www.thebest.gr/article/522619- |website=THE BEST |access-date=31 December 2023 |language=el |date=24 March 2019}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
 View of panagopoulou road and mountains, Rio, Greece.jpg|Neighborhood and Panachaiko mountain
 [[Rio railway station]], Achaia.JPG|Train station
 University of Patras Hospital and department of medicine.jpg|Hospital and bridge
 Library (BYP) - University of Patras.JPG|University library
 FestungRio.jpg|Castle
 University cemetery in Rio, Greece.jpg|Cemetery
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[List of settlements in Achaea]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.rion.gr/ Municipality of Rio] {{in lang|el|en}}

{{Rio, Greece}}

[[Category:Populated places in Achaea]]
[[Category:Patras]]
[[Category:Rio, Greece| ]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece]]