DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0140
PATRA. 115
the gulph, the grand rocks of Chalcis1 and Taphiassos,2 the coun-
try of the Locri Ozolse, with its capital Naupaktos, behind which
are descried the towering heights of Korax,3 and the snow-bright
range of Oeta.
Under the Greek emperors, Patra was a dukedom. In 1408, it
was bought by the Venetians, from whom it was afterwards taken
by the Turks, in 1446 f it was retaken by the Venetians in 1533,
and again possessed by the Turks, who have kept it ever since. It
suffered considerably under the pillage of the Dulcignote Albanians,
in 1770, but has since recovered so much from its various catastrophes
that it has become the most commercial place in Greece. This is
partly owing to its advantageous situation, and partly to the rich-
ness of its territory. It is the emporium of the Morea, and trades
with all parts of the Levant, Sicily, Italy, and even with England
and France. The commodiousness of its situation is the reason
that it has never been completely abandoned since its foundation ;
and we see that Roman merchants were settled there in the time
of Cicero,5 as the English and French are at present.
It is like all other Turkish cities, composed of dirty and narrow
streets; the houses are built of earth baked in the sun ; some of the
best are whitewashed ; and those belonging to the Turks are orna-
mented with red paint. The eaves overhang the streets, and pro-
ject so much, that opposite houses sometimes almost come in con-
tact, leaving but little space for air and light, and keeping the street
in perfect shade ; which in hot weather is agreeable, but I con-
ceive far from healthy. In some places arbours of large vines grow
about the town, and with their thick bunches of pendant grapes,
have a cool and pleasing appearance. The pavements are infamously
bad, and only calculated for horses ; no carnages of any kind being
used in Greece, although they are known in Thessaly and Epiros.
1 Now Barasoba. ' Now KaKt, <™aXa. s Now Rhegana.
4 Due. Michael. Nepot. Hist. Byzant. Chronicon. p 199. Paris edit.
5 Epist. ad Famil. b. 13. Epist. 17. 50.
Q 2
the gulph, the grand rocks of Chalcis1 and Taphiassos,2 the coun-
try of the Locri Ozolse, with its capital Naupaktos, behind which
are descried the towering heights of Korax,3 and the snow-bright
range of Oeta.
Under the Greek emperors, Patra was a dukedom. In 1408, it
was bought by the Venetians, from whom it was afterwards taken
by the Turks, in 1446 f it was retaken by the Venetians in 1533,
and again possessed by the Turks, who have kept it ever since. It
suffered considerably under the pillage of the Dulcignote Albanians,
in 1770, but has since recovered so much from its various catastrophes
that it has become the most commercial place in Greece. This is
partly owing to its advantageous situation, and partly to the rich-
ness of its territory. It is the emporium of the Morea, and trades
with all parts of the Levant, Sicily, Italy, and even with England
and France. The commodiousness of its situation is the reason
that it has never been completely abandoned since its foundation ;
and we see that Roman merchants were settled there in the time
of Cicero,5 as the English and French are at present.
It is like all other Turkish cities, composed of dirty and narrow
streets; the houses are built of earth baked in the sun ; some of the
best are whitewashed ; and those belonging to the Turks are orna-
mented with red paint. The eaves overhang the streets, and pro-
ject so much, that opposite houses sometimes almost come in con-
tact, leaving but little space for air and light, and keeping the street
in perfect shade ; which in hot weather is agreeable, but I con-
ceive far from healthy. In some places arbours of large vines grow
about the town, and with their thick bunches of pendant grapes,
have a cool and pleasing appearance. The pavements are infamously
bad, and only calculated for horses ; no carnages of any kind being
used in Greece, although they are known in Thessaly and Epiros.
1 Now Barasoba. ' Now KaKt, <™aXa. s Now Rhegana.
4 Due. Michael. Nepot. Hist. Byzant. Chronicon. p 199. Paris edit.
5 Epist. ad Famil. b. 13. Epist. 17. 50.
Q 2