In the last year 2006, Patras , the "capital" of the Western part of Greece, after Athens (1985) and Thessaloniki (1997) was chosen as the third Greek city the European Capital of Culture - Patras 2006. The initiator of the cultural project "European Capital of Culture" was the distinguished Greek actress and the ex-Ministry of Education Mrs Melina Mercouri and the project has been annually held since the 80´s of the last century.

 

The main cultural programme, which ran throughout the whole year of 2006, started officially on Saturday January 14 with the ceremony of the opening of the exhibition "Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist and Inventor". The exhibition presented 150 plans, designs, and true copies of the models of inventions of Leonardo da Vinci and it was further presented also in other Greek cities.

The main cultural programme was divided into the following parts:

1/ Opening Days (10. - 21.1.)
2/ Carnival Days (21.1 - 5.3)
2/ Days of Poetry and Music (27.4. - 11.5.)
3/ Contemporary Approaches to Ancient Drama (19.5. - 4.6.)
4/ Travelling with……. Music, Theatre, Dance and Cinema (end of June - mid September)
5/ Religion & Art Days (November)
6/ Children´s Art Days (1. - 31.12.)
7/ Closing Days (28.12. - 30.12.)

Many exhibitions and various musical and theatrical performances of artists and ensembles from the whole Europe were held within the main cultural programme - for the detailed information on the project "Patras 2006 - European Capital of Culture" and for the complete cultural programme you can visit the websites of the project PATRAS 2006 www.patras2006.gr .

Besides the main cultural programme the additional cultural programme Europe @ Patras took place between September 10 and 30, 2006. The cultural festival Europe @ Patras set as a main goal to achieve an encounter of European citizens and to present the cultural diversity of each participating country, this by hosting artists-amateurs from various European countries. The Czech Republic participated in this programme.

Within the project PATRAS 2006 - European Capital of Culture the 1st travelling exhibition "20 Years Cultural Capitals - A Journey Throughout the World" was held between March 27 - May 15 2006.