This is a route from the capital city of the Prefecture of Achaia to its borders with the Prefecture of Korinthia. The traveller enjoys the combination of sea and mountain, through beautiful villages and cities...
The starting point is the Three Allies Square. Drive along Agios Andreas street and take the exit to Athens.
At the traffic lights on the 4.5th km of this route, you take a right turn and after 100m you turn left. Now you are on the Old National Road and the trip begins. At the 5.5th km, you see the National Sports Centre "Olympic Winner Dimitrios Tofalos" which has housed many international meetings. After 800m there is a traffic light.
Keep to the right towards the University of Patras and village Kastritsi which is a beautiful village with lots of taverns and cherry trees. The celebration of the Cherry trees is held here every June.
The University of Patras is one of the biggest Universities, with 14,000 students and an active role in research. It is an indispensable element of Patras. At the 6.9th km another road goes to the city center and Rio beach. The starting point is St. George’s church.
There are many taverns and bars along the coast that are in full swing at spring and summer time. Rio is well-known for its exquisite bridge that was constructed to join the Peloponnese and Sterea Ellada. The narrow streets of Rio shall enchant you.
At the 7.8th km to the right, there is one more road that leads to Kastritsi and 100m further there is an exit to the New National Road on your right side.
Go under the NNR’s bridge and when you get to a fork stay to the right and you will soon see the village of Agios Vasileios. The landscape combines the mountain and the sea in a most charming way.
To your left you can see the mountains of Roumeli and Panachaiko Mountain.
At the 10.3rd km, a sign shows you the way to the villages of Platani, Argira, Sella, Pititsa and the Monastery of Panagia Eleoussa (13km). It is a winding road where the Pititsa rally also takes place.
To your left you can see Agios Vasileios, a famous resort with very clean beaches, nice villas and taverns by the sea, the same which you can find in the next village, Arachovitika.
At the 14.3rd km, a right turn takes you to Drepano, while straight ahead you find picturesque Psathopyrgos, a fishing village that very much reminds one of an island. Next is the village of Rodhini and then Panagopoula with wonderful bays, ideal for a nice swim and scuba diving, also a place where the Christian Church runs a camping site. Be careful of the steep turn under the bridge at the 24.2nd km and drive straight on to the Lambiri resort at the Municipality of Erineos. At 27.3km, a road takes you to Ziria with the wonderful taverns.
Straight on, on the Old National Road, you drive into Longos and Selianitika two sea-side places, quite favourite among tourists from Athens and Patras, where the tourist industry is highly developed.
At 31km, there is a junction with an exit to the New National Road, a little before you go into Selianitika, while at the center of the village, a road to the right leads to villages Nerantzies and Alsos. Drive straight on until you get to Rodhodaphni and find the streets to your left that take you to the beach of Akoli. At 35.7km to your right, the road takes you to the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Theologos in Verino. It is the staring point for route 14.
After 3 km, you go into Egio. There is a fork at 38.7km, if you go straight on you reach the center of Egio, if you keep to the left you find the church of Panagia Tripiti, the patron saint of Egio. Going through the town is easy and pleasant. Signs show you the way to Diakopto, Akrata, Aigeira and other beautiful places like Digeliotika, Temeni, Valimitika, Nikolaiika, Rodia, Eleonas, Trapeza, Platanos. Crystal clear waters, nice shade, seaside taverns, hotels, rooms for rent, cafes and so much more along the coastline. From Egio to Egira you shall see that the land abounds in lemon and orange tress and to vineyards that produce the Corinthian raisin. Along this road, you may find the staring points for routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, to the mountainous parts of the Prefecture. On your way out from Egio there’s again an exit to the New National Road, as well as two more in Pounda and in Krathio (Akrata).
