In the Prefecture of Achaia, there are scattered remnants of the ancient world, challenging the admiration of visitors. The most important ones are: Ancient Aigeira, Ancient Keryneia, Ancient Eliki, Archaeological Monuments of Aigion, Castle of Rion, Patras Antiquities, Wall of Dymaioi, Gyftokastro, Santameri, Portes, Achaic Leondio, Ancient Farrai, Ancient Tritaia, Ancient Loussoi, Ancient Kleitor, Ancient Psofis and Ancient Paos.
The boundaries of the prefectures of Achaia and Corinth, near the village of Aigai Aigeira, is the citadel of the Mycenaean city called Hyperesia or Yperisii, residents of which took part in the Trojan War. Nearby are also the ruins of classical - Hellenistic - Roman Aigeira, whose most important monuments are the theatre, two Temples and Gymnasium. Recently in the municipal district of Oasis there has been found a settlement of the 3rd BC century.
The remnants of the ancient city of Keryneia can be found near the village of Mamousias in the Municipality of Diakopto. According to some researchers, it was the acropolis of the Ionian city of Eliki. The visitor can admire the walls and the Hellenistic memorial, the excavation of which was completed recently.
The traces of the ancient city have been lost in thousands of years. Ancient Eliki was destroyed during a terrible earthquake in the winter of 373 BC and sank into the sea. The legends on the remnants of ancient Eliki will enchant you. Some fishermen even claimed that, when the waters were still, they could see the remnants of the city.
The findings from antiquity are scattered around the city. In the area of Deksameni excavations revealed two rectangular buildings of 500 BC and 400 BC respectively. The same excavation has also confirmed the existence of a cemetery of the classic years northwest of the same place, while at Ipsila Alonia Square (the main square of the city) there were discovered tombs of the Mycenaean era. Towards the sea, two other cemeteries (a Hellenistic and a Roman) also came to light.
It was built by sultan Vagiazit the Second in 1499 across the castle of Antirrio, to control the passage from the sea, from the Ionian Sea to the Korinthian Bay, which was called “kioutsouk Tsanak Kale”, i.e. "Mikra Dardanellia".
ROMAN BRIDGE
It was a part of "Via Militariam" that joined Patras and Aigio. It is situated in the Northern entrance of the city, at the junction of Aretha St. and the New National Highway. It is a bridge of rare beauty and one of the very few specimens of its kind that are still preserved.
The bridge was constructed in 2nd-3rd century. AC. It was built in the Kallinao River, which now flows about 100 m more southern, and was integrated in the provincial public highway linking Patras with Aigio.
ROMAN AQUADUCT
A great piece of work of the Roman years. It starts at the springs of Neromana of Romanos and runs for 6km to Aroe, under the Byzantine castle, where one may find its best part.
Built on the site of the ancient acropolis in the years of Ioustinianos, repaired and formed as it stands today by the Franks of the 4th Crusade at the beginning of the 13th century AD. From antiquity to World War II, the castle was used continuously for the defence of the area and as a prison, thus it bears many visible additions.
A unique archaeological monument is gradually revealed in the city centre, near Hefaistos street. It is about a Roman stadium, with a double arch, and there are only two other similar ones, in Rome and in Minor Asia.
West of the acropolis, near St. George square and surrounded by Germanou, Sotiriadou and Pandokratoros streets, one can find the Ancient Conservatory of Patras which was built in the middle of the 2nd century AD, even earlier than the Herodion Theatre in Athens. It has all the essential parts of the theatre, auditorium, orchestra, front stage, stage and backstage. It is smaller than the Herodion and it can seat about 2,500 spectators.
7km further, north-east of the city, in Amygdalia or Agrapidia of Voundeni settlement, there is a Mycenaean cemetery (1500 – 1100 BC) that stretches for 80.000 square metres. The already excavated part is currently being formed so that it is given to the public.
Near Araxos in the Municipality of Larissos, one can find the most important Mycenaean Acropolis in Western Greece. According to mythology the Wall of Dymaioi was built by semigod Hercules for the protection of the Dymaia Land (Olenos, Tefthea, Larisa, Thelpousa, Faistos and other settlements)
from the incursions of the people of Heleia.
GYFTOKASTRO
It is situated outside the village of Arla in the Municipality of Olenia. T is also called the castle of Arla. Nowadays, it is the best preserved frank castle in the Prefecture. It is polygonal and there is a water tank in the middle.
SANTAMERI
Santameri, one of the most picturesque villages of Western Achaia on Skolis mountain, is where you will find the ruins of the Castle of the Frank Domination.
PORTES
A great Mycenaean cemetery that is still being excavated is near Portes in the Municipality of Olenia between the Prefectures of Achaia and Heleia. Adjacent to Portes, one can find the Frank Castle. There are ruins of a domed building, parts of walls and ruins of houses.
PAVLOKASTRO
Ruins of wall foundations and underground passages near the village of Tsaplanaiika bear witness to the existence of a castle which is mentioned for the first time in a text that dates back to 1408, as one of the castles of the Archbishop of Patras.
In the community of Leondio, there is a settlement and a temple of goddess Artemis that date back to the 8th century BC, while in various other locations of the area, like in Agios Ioannis there are domed tombs of the post-Mycenaean period, In Palaia Ktiria there is a water main, while in Loutra one can find a Roman bath.
ANCIENT (ACHAIC) FARRAI
Between the villages of Prevedos and Isoma, there are traces of the ancient inhabitants of Farrai. The visitor finds himself before a number of archaeological findings like, a Roman bath, inscriptions in a cemetery in Prevedos, artificial burrows in Starolaka and Mycenaean tombs.
ANCIENT TRITΕΙΑ or TRITAIA
Near the village of Agia Marina there are traces of the ancient Achaic city of Tritaia that was visited by Paphsanias.
Near Loussiko village in the Municipality of Kalavryta, the Austrian Archaeological Institute has excavated the Arcadian city of Loussoi. The excavation is still in process. The visitor can see the temple of Artemis Hmerisia which dates back to the 3rd century BC, the city market and many private residences.
In the luxuriant nature, near the town of Kleitoria in the Municipality of Lefkasio, there are saved the excavation findings of the ancient city-state Kleitor, the first city of all the Arcadian ones that minted coins. Outside city walls and its theatre, archaeological mattock has revealed a great deal of other archaeological findings as well. Every summer, theatrical plays and ancient tragedies are performed there.
Chalandritsa has been inhabited since Palaeolithic Era. During excavations for the construction of a health centre, in 1985, there were found remnants of a pre-historic settlement.
In Tripotama in the Municipality of Aroania, there are the ruins of the powerful city of Psofis. One can see the walls, while pillars and capitals are engulfed in newer buildings. Excavations will soon start for the revelation of the ancient city.
In the Municipality of Paoi, north-east of the new settlement of Paos, there are the remnants of the Arcadian city of Paos, on the acropolis of which there is a water tank and a clay pipe that ends in it. There are foundations of an ancient building (probably a palace), of the temple of Dioskouroi, rectangular towers and a gate.
