| T.E.I. of Patras is located in a quiet and pleasant area of 100  hectares, only 4 km away from the city centre. The palm and pine trees,  well over 100 years, make it an ideal place for long walks and for  relaxing in between the courses. The buildings occupy a space of 25,000 square metres and are in  harmony with the surrounding natural environment . The Institute consists  of the main building, which houses the central administration, the  administrative services of the three schools, laboratories and lecture  classes and two amphitheatres.
 The same building houses the  restaurant and the cafeteria. There are many buildings on campus which house classrooms; laboratories and academic staff offices, as well as,  the Centre of Foreign Languages and Physical Fitness. There are  buildings of special interest such as the Conference Centre, the Villa and the Church of the three Saints. A two-floor traditional building  houses the financial services department of the Institute.
 The  rapid increase in the student population has transformed the  institution’s shape and size. New buildings have contributed  significantly towards the institute’s development and competitiveness in  fulfilling the academic needs of its mission.
 
 Conference Centre
   The  Conference Centre occupies a space of 2,500 square metres and contains  two amphitheatres, of four hundred and one hundred seats respectively,  exhibition space, conference and seminar rooms, as well as, space for  public receptions. All spaces are equipped with the latest audiovisual  and translation system facilities.
 
 Financial Department
 
 A  section of the T.E.I.’s financial department is housed in the villa  “Kolla”. The villa “Kolla” is a notable example of a rural country manor  of the late 19th century with important artwork dating back to 1830.  Its oak floors and  magnificent decorations on the ceilings are symbols  of the charm and nobility of that era. The wonderful garden which  surrounds  the villa is the venue for many cultural and other events..
 
 Workshop Location  Patras  is the capital city of the Prefecture of Achaia and of the Region of  Western Greece. The region covers the North-Western part of Peloponnese  and the Western part of the mainland and due to its geographical position is the transportation centre between the European Union and the  East. Patras is a major port for Greece and the Mediterranean as a  whole, and it is considered as the Greece's gate to the West. It is also the main commercial and administrative centre for Western Greece with  rail and road links to Athens and other major cities.  The  new Rio-Antirio bridge, the longest suspended bridge in the world links  Patras with the coast of Western mainland of Greece and offers an  impressive view from the Conference Centre.  Patras  is a vibrant city with a population of around a quarter of a million.  Along the very attractive coastline, there are many picturesque seaside  villages with taverns, offering fresh fish and traditional dishes. The  city has a range of hotels, restaurants, indoor and open-air cafeterias,  late nightclubs with live music or just a good atmosphere, all within  easy reach from the centre. Also the city is close to important  monuments of classical times, most notably ancient Olympia, host of the  ancient Olympic Games, Delphi, Epidaurus, Mycenae. Also, connection with  mainland of Greece is established by the newly built Rion-Antirion  bridge, the longest cable bridge in the world with a continuous deck of  2,250 meters.    How to reach Patras Patras can be reached in a number of ways.  From the Athens International Airport  The workshop site is located 220 km away from the new Athens International  Airport. (El. Venizelos). This is a major airport connected to most  European and international destinations.  Currently Patras can be reached from Athens airport via the following routes:
 
 Athens International Airport – (bus/taxi) – Athens Central/Kifisos Coach Station– (coach) – Patras Central Coach Station  
 Athens  International Airport – (metro/suburban/taxi) – Athens Central Railway  Station (Larissis Station)– (train) – Patras Central Railway Station  
 Athens International Airport – (train with a possible change) – Patras Central Railway Station  
Athens International Airport – (special bus service) – Patras Hotels    Via other destinations:Zakinthos  (Zakynthos, Zante) and Kefalonia (Kefallinia, Cephalonia) are nearby  islands that are hot tourist spots and during the summer you should be  able to find a flight to these places direct form most European  countries (and, especially, the UK and Germany). Once in Zakinthos or  Kefalonia, you can travel to Patras onboard buses of local companies  that will drop you in Patras (city centre) on their way to Athens (the  bus transfer also takes care of your boat connection – no need for  extra arrangements).
 
 From Araxos Airport:
 There  is a local airport at Araxos (about 35 km from Patras city center)  servicing charter flights from several European cities (Frankfurt,  Zurich, Hamburg, Munich, Wien, Prague, Brussels, etc) operated at a weekly basis. This will be particularly useful for conference  participants who wish to combine the workshop with holidays at nearby  resorts via tourist packages.
 
 By sea:
 Patras  is the western gate of Greece to Italy and Western Europe. More than 50  ship-services every week link the city with the major Italian ports  (Venice, Ancona, Bari etc.) and the Ionian Islands. Port Authority  (Tel.: +30-2610-341002)
 Two of the  major operators in ferry lines between Italy and Greece are Minoan Lines (www.minoan.gr) and ANEK Lines (www.anek.gr).  You should visit their site for  up-to-date information, however, the  following links for connections between  Patras and Venice or Ancona  were functional at the time this web page was  edited:
 Once in Patras, participants can  reach the venue by the local bus (15-20 min, about 1 Euro) or taxi (10-15 min, about 5 Euros). There will also be free bus service from  the major hotels or city centre to the venue and vice versa.
 
 
   
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