Patras is the third largest city in Greece, (after Athens and Thessaloniki). It is the capital of the Prefecture of Achaia on the Peloponnese and the western gateway into the country, thanks to its frequent ferry connections with Italy. The city is built at the foothills of Mount Panachaikon, overlooking the Gulf of Patras, in an area which combines the seaside together with a mountainous landscape. Patras is a bustling student city as it is home to the second-largest (Hellenic Open University) and fourth-largest (University of Patras) universities of Greece which celebrate numerous years of academic operation and consist of various Schools and Departments. In addition, Patras is the home city of the School of Engineering of the University of the Peloponnese. Patras is a city that offers numerous entertainment and cultural options as well as a rich variety of historic sites (mainly Olympia and Delphi) and is definitely worth exploring. Patras is a city that offers numerous entertainment and cultural options as well as a rich variety of historic sites (mainly Olympia and Delphi) and is definitely worth exploring.