Achaea

Achaea is a regional unit of Greece, located in the northern part of the Peloponnese peninsula within the Western Greece region. It stretches along the Gulf of Patras and the Ionian Sea, and it is bordered by Aetolia-Acarnania to the north, Elis to the south, and Arcadia to the east. The capital and largest city is Patras, a major port and urban center.

Historically, the name Achaea derives from the ancient region of Achaea in the northern Peloponnese, inhabited by the Achaeans. In antiquity the area included Greek city-states and, later, the Achaean League, a federal alliance that played a significant role in Hellenistic and Roman-era Greek politics.

As an administrative unit, Achaea was established under Greece’s 2011 Kallikratis reform as part of the Western Greece region. It comprises several municipalities, including Patras, Aigio, Kalavryta, and Aigialeia, among others.

Geography and economy of the region feature a coastal plain along the Gulf of Patras, with more varied terrain inland. The economy traditionally relies on agriculture—olive oil, wine, and citrus—along with port-related trade, light manufacturing, and services centered on Patras. The area is also a beneficiary of transport links that connect western Greece to the broader national network.

Notable aspects of Achaea include its role in maritime trade and regional education, anchored by institutions in Patras. The region hosts cultural events and festivals, such as those associated with the university city and the broader Patras area, contributing to its regional identity within Greece.