Achaia

Achaia, or Achaea (Greek: Αχαΐα), is a term used for both an ancient Greek region and a modern administrative area in western Greece. The name derives from the Achaeans, one of the major Greek tribes of the early classical period, and has been applied to various political and geographic entities over time.

In classical antiquity, Achaea denoted the region on the northern Peloponnese, facing the Corinthian Gulf. It included city-states such as Aegium (Aigion) and Helike, and was the core of the Achaean League, a federal federation that played a significant role in Hellenistic Greece and in relations with Macedon and Rome.

Under Roman rule, Achaea became a formal province comprising much of mainland Greece, with major urban centers like Corinth continuing to be important commercial and cultural hubs. The term persisted through late antiquity and into the medieval period as a geographic and administrative designation.

In modern Greece, Achaia is a regional unit of the Western Greece periphery. Its administrative center is Patras, the region’s largest city and a major port. The regional unit also includes towns such as Aigio and Kalavryta, and it borders Elis and parts of the Peloponnese. The inland area features the Panachaiko range, while the coast runs along the Gulf of Patras. The Rio–Antirrio Bridge, completed in 2004, connects Patras with Antirrio across the Gulf of Corinth.

The economy of Achaia centers on shipping, industry, agriculture (notably olives and citrus), and services, with the University of Patras among its educational institutions. The region is known for archaeological sites, beaches, and cultural events, including the Patras Carnival.