Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:36 am
This is the ninth group on old photographs with some people and landscapes from Benitses of the past, most in black and white.
Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:35 am
This is the eighth group on old photographs with some people who were young in the 80s, there are also some old pictures from exotic places of the west coast of Corfu during the 50s, photos of Mirtiotissa nudist beach, Paleokastritsa and more.
The photographs have not been processed like the other groups and they have all scratches and signs of time…
Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:34 am
This is the sixth group on old photographs especially with people, all photos after digital processing to remove the signs of aging.
The photographs are mostly of the decade of the ’70s, for those depicted in the photographs have not only consent but also the desire of relatives to include them on our site.
In the future, there will be more pictures added.
For persons shown in the pictures we have their consent, and for those who are not alive the consent of their relatives.
Here we add some more photos showing how Benitses was before 1930, were taken from the farm of San Stefano on the northern hill of Benitses, and are kindly offered to us by the Manessis family.
Truly unique images, showing mainly panoramic views of Benitses from that hill.
Many others are to follow that will probably go into the history section in new pages which will include historical data for both the farm of San Stefano and the laborers of that era.
Also, images mainly with hard-working women from all over Corfu in another page, showing the ragged and difficult conditions of that distance era, also pictures with events and landscapes from all over Corfu of the early 20th century.
All photos are from 1900 until 1930 and show a completely different world, a world from another planet …
Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:35 am
This is the seventh group on old photographs mainly with people, all photos have been digitally processed to remove the signs of aging.
The photographs are mostly of the decade of the ’70s In the future, there will be more pictures added.
Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:34 am
In this 5th group of our Benitses old photos collection, there are mainly people of the families of Martzokas, Kontos, Kapsokavadis, Spinoulas, and others.
Also, photos of the house of Parmenides and several others recently collected, all digitally processed to remove the signs of time.
There is a unique perhaps photo of Mr. Parmenidis and his wife, taken long before 1940.
Last updated on November 7th, 2023 at 01:12 pm
The fourth group of Benitses old photos collection.
Pictures from landscapes, the old port, the elementary school at different times from 1933 to 1980 and photos from some celebrations.
Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:33 am
50 photos which are the third group of our old photos collection of Benitses with images of women workers in the groves of the last century, photographs documents of the construction of the old port in 1960, photos of old fishermen and several others.
Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:33 am
The second group of our large collection of Benitses old photos, mainly with photos of Benitses landscapes and religious events.
Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:32 am
This is the first group with 50 photos of the large collection of Benitses old black and white photos.
Last updated on July 29th, 2025 at 07:37 am
The house of San Stefano was built on the hill just north of Benitses, in 1782, by a member of the great Venetian Giustiniani family, on the site of an older house destroyed by an earthquake- so the new one was built on a rock!
The house was the centre of a large estate and took its name from the private chapel of San Stefano, which is built on the same rock as the house.
Giustiniani was an old noble family, they moved from Constantinople to Venice and Genoa in Italy and became Italians in 1204 after the conquest of Constantinople by the Franks, soon the Venetian branch of the family dominated the Aegean islands of Tzia and Serifos and the Genoese branch acquired the sovereignty of the island of Chios some hundred years later.
Sovereign of the island of Chios Ioannis Ioustinianis arrived in Constantinople in 1453 with 2 Genoese ships from Chios with 400 knights and 300 sailors to fight alongside the last Emperor Konstantinos Paleologos, against the Turks, in the vain and final battle of the Empire …
Ioannis Ioustinianis wounded badly and lost his life shortly after the battle.
Some members of the Venetian branch came to Corfu, the shield with the two-headed eagle in the church of Saint Stefanos indicates the Byzantine origin of the family.
The farm passed by marriage into the Flamburiari family who lived there in the summer.
At various times it was also used as a monastery, and latterly as a convent- indeed the aunt of the last Tsar Nicholas 2nd, an abbess, came with her nuns and when she went back to Russia she took a young boy from the village with her.
He made his money in Odessa and then returned to Benitses and started the Avra Hotel.
In the early 20th century it came into the Manessi family as a dowry, and the family still own the house.
We warmly thank the wife of the memorable Stefanos Manesis, Mrs. Jan Manesis, which gave us all those pictures that are on this page and also the page with the “old Corfu photographs of 1900”.
As you notice in the first group, most of the pictures are pics from Manesis family, and in the second group pictures from the workers in the farm during the first quarter of the 20th century.
Of course, the number of photos we have is countless, we will add some more in the near future with their comments where possible and when we are certain that the accompanying information to them is accurate.
During the first half of the 20th century, the farm’s olives were a major source of employment for the villagers of Benitses.
Clearing the undergrowth and collecting the olives gave poor people, especially young women, work.
The family also owned and operated the olive press near the sea and pressed other peoples’ oil as well as their own.
Olive oil was almost a currency at that time- the olive press fee was paid for in a percentage of oil press, and the priest was paid in olive oil to give a monthly service at San Stefano.
With tourism the olive industry fell into decline as people had their own work to do, the cost of labor increased sharply, and mechanization meant that the old olive press was no longer economical to use.
Now the estate has been broken up and developed.
There is still a service in the chapel once a year, on 27th December, often with more than one priest, and there are drinks and snacks for the priest(s), choir and congregation afterward in the old traditional way.
200 (at least) more photos to follow soon..! in section “Gallery” and in page “Benitses of 1950”, with the old fishing boats “Agia Triada” and “Agios Dimitrios”, their following smaller boats with the lamps, many beautiful Benitses landscapes, pictures from that era’s economic activities such as beekeeping.
Also unbelievable photos of Pontikonisi (Mouse island) and photos of some celebrities of the 50s who had repeatedly visited Benitses in the past.
Benitses old photos
Last updated on October 6th, 2023 at 11:58 am
This small video is just a slideshow, made using some old gravoures of places around the city and the island of Corfu
Last updated on October 6th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Our friend Nikos Mezitis flying over Corfu town with his glider, the flight is around the Esplanade square, the Old fortress and the Saint Michael and George palace.
Last updated on June 27th, 2025 at 09:17 am
21st of June, the reunion of reunions? we work to make it so
Are ya coming to the reunion of reunions?
Open to all ex Benitses workers and reps from any era.
Meet up with old friends, workmates (and conquests) from the best time of our lives in the place we all hold close to our hearts.
Reunion 2013 was absolutely brilliant. 2014 is gonna be HUGE!!
The chance to re-visit and re-live the best days of our lives, with old friends and in the resort that we all love.
The facebook group for this reunion is here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/benitsesworkers/
U re welcome to join the group and find details and info on how to joint the real event too, u are welcome to the big Reunion in Benitses.
The announcement by one of the organizer’s Chris Alexander:
Well, It’s official, the reunion festivities will start on June 21st! I hope you are all starting to get excited. Lots of people have booked their flights so all you out there who haven’t and want to come, get on and book it!
So the planned itinerary is as follows:
Saturday 21st June is Reunion party night at the Stadium, dress code; your Benitses worker’s uniforms/T-shirts
Sunday 22nd June 3 till 6 pm hangover pool party at the stadium pool where the bar will be open and lots of pool games!
Other events for those stopping for a week or more;
A day trip on mass to Marathias beach for more laughs.
Night yet to be arranged but Linda Hutton has kindly agreed to host a BBQ at hers with us all chipping in to share the cost.
Thursday 19th June there are World Cup qualifying games, England at 10 pm and Greece at 1 am (Greek time). Dress code: England T-shirts and flags AND togas so bring a bedsheet!
Most importantly spend time catching up and reminiscing with all your friends, and places that mean so much to you when you worked there.
Please feel free to suggest any other events on here but we are sure that when we are all together the ideas will flow and as happened last year spontaneous piss ups will occur day and night!
Ps to all the ’80s and 90’s DJ’s that are coming can you let me know if you want to do a set on the reunion night for old times sake and a laugh.
BRING IT ON!
Below are some pics from last year’s meeting (July 2013)
Last updated on July 6th, 2025 at 05:41 pm
Update: Corfu Mountain Trail in Benitses has been abandoned since 2015, this post has only historical value.
Despite the cold and rainy weather this year’s 3rd CORFU MOUNTAIN TRAIL in Benitses had great success.
The starting time was at 8 AM as scheduled for both routes of 17 and 37 km respectively.
Volunteers and organizers gave their best and everything worked flawlessly, with the participation of 293 athletes from all over Greece that exceeded all expectations and despite the rain and cold, a large number of people were at the starting point during the whole event.
As athletes said the path was difficult and slippery, also the rain made conditions difficult but also the beautiful mountain scenery more spectacular, something that helped almost all athletes to finish normally, only three of them did not make it.
We wish and hope that next year the event will have even greater success and more participants.
Two years ago some Corfiots in sport conceived the idea of a race that would fit in the diverse landscape of Corfu and at the same time would be quite difficult to attract participation from all over Greece and slowly established itself as a major race event among many others already conducted throughout the country.
What more appropriate than the very beautiful verdant landscape of Corfu and particularly that of the central mountainous region of the island.
So some people thought that a race run in this mountainous terrain would have great response and success but also a large degree of difficulty enough to attract big names and become nationally and internationally known.
The area in and around Benitses was considered as the most suitable, indeed Benitses as a tourist center that has the ability to host an unlimited number of athletes and escorts also have the infrastructure and large open spaces suitable for starting, stopping and install of technical infrastructure for full monitoring and control of the entire route.
Also, the constant population growth in recent years makes Benitses a small town rather than a village, infrastructure and the position of Benitses also help furthermore.
The route from Benitses to the surrounding villages is large enough to hold two races, a 17 km route and a route of 37 kilometers, both within an area of outstanding natural beauty, full of olive groves, these races will help to highlight the natural environment of the exceptional beauty of this part of our island.
If you combine the fact that the long race is slightly smaller than a marathon as well that this is done on mountain trails with steep slopes and many alternations are easily perceived that the degree of difficulty is greater than a marathon.
So in the winter of 2011 held the first race with sufficient success, resulting in the continuation of the second race running in mountainous terrain in February 2013 under the name «CORFU MOUNTAIN TRAIL 2013» with even greater success and appearances.
The race has now become known nationwide and this year was organized and held on Sunday, 2 February 2014 the 3rd mountainous terrain race run under the name «CORFU MOUNTAIN TRAIL 2014».
The race was organized by the «CORFU MOUNTAIN TRAIL» and held in the standard path on the geographic unit designated by the villages of Benitses, Gastouri, Agioi Deka, Kato Garouna and Stavros.
As the time limit for completion of the 17km race is the time of four (4 ) hours and a time limit for completion of the 37 km race is the time of eight (8 ) hours.
Valid athletes are those who finish within the time limit.
The elevation difference of long-stroke (RAIN TRAIL) is 2020 meters and the small (OLIVE TREE TRAIL) is 1000 meters.
Men and women over the age of 18 have the right to participate in the race. The age of 18 must be fulfilled at the date of the race. Athletes under the age of 18 are allowed to participate only with an affirmation signed by the parent or guardian.
The sports event consists of three parts:
MOUNTAIN TRAIL RUNNING RACE with two optional routes: OLIVE TREE TRAIL (17km) & RAIN TRAIL (37km)
HIKING ROUTE with a length of 5 km
KIDS RACE 1000 meters at the square of Benitses, for pupils of Elementary School. There will be two categories: Girls up to 12 years old and boys up to 12, born after 2002. The Kids Race is sponsored by the Corfiot Gym Association and the TE Segas.
NOTE: Because of the bad weather This year’s children’s race was postponed until next Sunday and will be held in the town of Corfu, specifically in the position of the Esplanade square.
The cost to participate in the race of 37 km is € 30 and 17 km is € 20.
More information on what the package includes, ie participation as commemorative medals, electronic timing, security, catering, seminars from coaches before the match, rehabilitation massage, meals, gifts, etc.
Regarding the accommodation of athletes and escorts, accommodation have been secured in Benitses, the price will be low and will vary each year depending, see details on the organization’s site.
1) Men (18-40) born from 01.01.1974 to 02.02.1996,
2)Men Veteran (41-55) born 1959-1973 and 55 and over (1958 +)
3)Women (18-40) born from 1996 to 1974,
4)Women Veteran (41 +) 1973 +
The first place of each category and each track will get a cup and a medal. Second and third place will receive a medal. All athletes who finish within the time limit receive a memorial medal and a participation diploma.
It is recommended to all athletes to have a flask to supply with water from the provision points and therefore have hydration autonomy, a raincoat in case of rain, and a cell phone.
Last updated on June 27th, 2025 at 09:18 am
The flood in Benitses at 17-11-2010
On the evening of 16th-17th November 2010 in Corfu, the heavens opened, and the quantity of water that fell within 2 hours far exceeded the 150 mm, which was the total rainfall in some other areas throughout the year.
This, coupled with the unregulated changes made to the environment following the rerouting of the river developments that had been made in recent years along its course, caused the river to overflow so that parked cars drifted away, homes and basements flooded, and generally caused damage seen for the first time our region.
An important role in blocking the free flow of water in the river was played by the sanitation and water pipes which held large amounts of wood and other rubbish, and so the water flooded with these catastrophic results.
In the video below we see typical scenes after the rain, cars carried away and crushed, bikes in the sea, flooded houses, and uneven flooded streets.
