Patras and Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
population : 872 355 inhabitants
location : in the north of Greece
http://www.greekferries.gr/weather_greece/thessaloniki-fr.htm
economic activities : second harbour and second urban and industrial town of Greece.A big economic power . Commercial and administrative activities are most impotant than industreial activities .
http://www.greece-ferries.com/fr/ports/grece/thessalonique/
History : the city was found in 316 before J.C. During the antiquity.
The city is called Salonique by the Ottomans (occupation from 1430 to 1913).
Souvenir of France, Turkey
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Souvenir_de_Salonique,_Turquie.png
Allies base during the first World War .
The city is called Thessalonique after the second World War.
The city has changed many times of occupying forces from the IV century to the XIX century .
Cultural and historical heritage :
There are many byzantin monuments with some mosaic which are wellknown in all the world (basilica, church, museum)
Second example : church of St Paul
http://www.annuaire-mairie.fr/patrimoine-mondial-monuments-paleochretiens-et-byzantins-de-thessalonique.html
Second example : St Demetrios of Thessaloniki, in the orthodox church
http://fr.123rf.com/photo_13790008_thessalonique-grece--16-mars-l-eglise-orthodoxe-grecque-interieur-saint-demetrios-de-thessalonique-s.html
Patras :
-population : 161 114 inhabitants.
-location: Patras is located in the North-West of Peloponese in th South-West of greece.
http://www.canalmonde.fr/r-annuaire-tourisme/monde/guides/cartes.php?p=gr
http://www.azurever.com/grece/magazine/grece-patras.php3
-economic activities : textile, tyre, stationery trade, cement factories, typical food big harbour of greece.
http://www.greece-ferries.com/fr/ports/grece/patras/
-history :
Important city in the Antiquity, Peloponese's war , a place of cultural exchange in the nineteens .
Achaie's capital in the Middle Ages and destroyed by the Turks in 1821.
-cultural heritage :
Patra’s Roman Odeum, that was built at an earlier date than the Athens Odeum (160 AD).
The Castle of Patras was built during the 2nd half of the 6th century.
Saint Andrew’s Church is one of the biggest churches in the Balkans.
The museum’s exhibits cover the time period between 3000 B.C and the 4th century.
Bridge of Rion Antirion (made in 2004), links Peloponese with the continent.
The lighthouse of Patras (symbole of the city).
-others information :
Carnival of patras (since 170 years). A big economic power.
http://pedagogie2.ac-reunion.fr/col-j.solesse/tisseursgrecefetes.htm
European capital of culture in 2006 (concert, exposition, many of worldwide known people).
http://fr.welcomeurope.com/news-europe/patras-capitale-europeenne-culture-2006-11274+11174.html