Today Benitses is still developing, trying to attract more discerning visitors by upgrading the infrastructure whilst being careful to preserve the traditional look that it has never lost.
Tourism remains the main source of income for local residents, but a lot of efforts are being made to keep improving the infrastructure in order to attract an increasing number of visitors.
The current priority is to complete the harbor and the new yachting marina so that it will start to bring income to the village.
Other important projects such as a large artificial beach and the paving of internal roads are planned, but unfortunately due to the present economic crisis we are experiencing these plans are currently on hold and remain a dream.
Despite the current economic problems those of the residents who have the skills and ideas feel obliged to strive to implement the plans and achieve as much as possible.
We must not sit back because of the crisis but keep trying for a better future because even if it happens that Europe does not exist in the form we know it, Greece, Corfu, and Benitses will still be here, it is our home and we must keep it vital and alive.
Benitses at 1940
We found an old photo of Benitses taken in 1940, taken from almost the same position as the current picture, so we thought it is useful to put them together to see firsthand the huge changes that time has brought.
We see the differences, the current picture is taken from a point about 50 feet ahead and a little more left from this of 1940, that is the only difference.
The mountains are the same but the coastline has been developed inevitably, the truth is that the picture of 1940 shows a much more pastoral scene …. those electricity wires of today look terrible anyway…
With a perfect blend of shingle and sand, well-organized sunbeds, and easy access to water sports, these beaches offer a dreamlike setting for lounging and adventure alike
Benitses was the first tourist destination on Corfu since the 1960s. But why you should visit Benitses now? We give you at least 6 good reasons to do it!
This Benitses picture of 1981 shows the entire area of Benitses almost from Koutsomaroula bay up to Laopetra, seems to been pulled from the base of the then old pier in the harbor
Benitses has some very old and beautiful buildings, some of them more than 5 centuries old. We tried to collect as many information we could about the most important of them
You’ll find yourself strolling along the promenade, bathed in the warm Mediterranean sun, as you take in the breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea.
What makes this picture-perfect scene even more special is the heart of the village – the Benitses Harbor. Let’s dive into the story of this harbor, from its historical roots to the modern-day experiences it offers.
Benitses itself is known for its beautiful beaches, traditional charm, and vibrant local culture, making it a popular destination for tourists and boating enthusiasts.
Apart from Benitses and Gouvia Marina in Corfu, there are thousands of incredible boat and yacht rentals across Europe and options worldwide for travelers of all ages looking to experience the water.
Size and Capacity: Benitses Marina can accommodate 96 boats up to 25 meters in length, including yachts and smaller boats. It was agreed that 10 berths would be made available free of charge to local professional fishermen. It’s a relatively smaller marina than others on Corfu, making it a more intimate and quieter location for docking.
Facilities: The marina is equipped with essential facilities for boaters, such as water and electricity hookups. It may also offer services such as fuel supply, waste disposal, and possibly minor repair services. Nearby, you’ll find a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops, providing all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay.
Access and Navigation: The marina’s location offers easy access to the Ionian Sea, making it an ideal starting point for exploring the surrounding waters, nearby islands, and coastal attractions. The waters around Benitses are generally calm, and the marina provides a haven for docking.
Security: As with most marinas, special personnel and security measures, including surveillance and controlled access, are in place to ensure the safety of the docked vessels and their crew.
Nearby Attractions:
Benitses Village: The village itself is worth exploring, with its mix of traditional tavernas, beautiful beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Corfu Town: A short drive away is Corfu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its historic architecture, vibrant streets, and cultural landmarks.
Natural Beauty: The surrounding area is known for its lush landscapes and clear waters, which are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and other water activities.
Benitses Marina offers a charming and peaceful spot for boaters exploring Corfu and the Ionian Sea.
It’s an excellent choice for those seeking a more relaxed and traditional Greek island experience.
A Glimpse into History
To truly appreciate the significance of Benitses Marina, we must delve into its historical roots.
The residents of Benitses have long relied on fishing and the cultivation of citrus and olives as their primary means of sustenance.
Naturally, a shelter for their fishing boats was essential, and so they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Work on the harbor commenced with the dedication of residents and a handful of mechanical aids. In the early stages, the process was labor-intensive and community-driven, as seen in old photographs of those initial efforts.
It’s important to note that the construction of the current marina didn’t entail the destruction of a beach, as some might assume. Instead, it involved expanding the old port by filling in part of the harbor to create a larger land area.
Over the years, two significant engineering projects have taken place in the harbor area, inevitably altering some of its picturesque landscapes.
A notable development was the shifting of the road away from the houses, addressing safety concerns, and accommodating the increasing traffic flow.
The first infill project began in 1972, covering the creek in the old port area where the road now lies.
The second major project took place during the construction of the marina in 2002, covering nearly the entire area within the old harbor’s boundaries.
The Benitses Harbor has come a long way since its inception. Historically, it was a bustling fishing harbor, and its transformation into the Benitses Yacht Marina commenced in 2002 as an extension of the existing port.
While it is officially complete, some equipment has endured wear and tear over the years due to a lack of upkeep and maintenance.
However, fret not! The harbor’s future looks bright. Soon, the Benitses Yacht Marina will officially fall under the purview of the Municipality of Corfu and resume its regular operations.
This step is bound to rejuvenate the harbor and breathe new life into this picturesque corner of the island.
The Benitses Yacht Marina was conceived to attract affluent visitors and their yachts.
The idea was to offer top-notch anchorage facilities to entice these travelers while boosting the local economy directly through mooring fees and indirectly through their spending.
However, the marina currently faces some challenges due to equipment shortages and damage, coupled with a lack of official operators.
As a result, its operations are somewhat rudimentary. Many ships are moored here, and there’s a growing demand for space.
Residents are eager to clarify the commercial status of the port.
March 2021 – Lease of the tourist port of Benitses
In March 2021, the Greek government made a significant move by leasing the tourist boat shelter to a private company for the next 15 years, with the possibility of two 5-year extensions.
Maritime Projects secured the lease for an annual amount of €250,000, along with approximately 2% local tax on turnover.
While this lease promises financial benefits for the Municipality of central Corfu, the local community of Benitses is expected to receive only a meager annual sum of €5,000 from the €250,000 lease revenue. Understandably, this has sparked some local controversy.
The lease also imposes restrictions on the company, preventing it from operating cafes or restaurants, and only allowing a leisure bar.
The decisions surrounding the lease were made after discussions (at least this is what they said) with the local council, which is closely aligned with the ruling party.
What Lies Ahead
As per the contract, the lessor is responsible for providing the necessary studies and permits for the port at their expense.
Following the granting of the operating license and the first round of repairs, the harbor was expected to start operating at the end of June or the beginning of July 2021.
An official inauguration ceremony took place on July 5, graced by the presence of a government minister.
For local professional fishermen, there’s a silver lining: 10 berths at the tourist port of Benitses are available free of charge. Additionally, amateur fishermen will have access to the sea via a ramp for their boats at a nominal cost.
The fate of the parking lot space remains uncertain. While there are rumors that it will reopen as a paid service after repair work is completed, this is not explicitly stated in the contract.
Fortunately, the parking area became operational again in 2022, albeit with a small and reasonable fee. But after a year or so it became a parking lot only for the customers.
And Because nothing lasts forever
Athenian Yachts S.A. announced the acquisition of Benitses Marina in Corfu, following a contract signed on October 14, 2024. This move continues the company’s vision for expanding its operations, which began in April 2024 with the acquisition of 50% of Messolonghi Marina. From now on, Benitses Marina will serve as the sole charter service base on the island of Corfu, replacing Gouvia Marina.
Benitses Marina is one of only 9 marinas worldwide to receive the 5 Gold Anchors award from the Yacht Harbour Association for the exceptional quality of its services. Additionally, it has been certified as an International Clean Marina and has been declared “Best Marina 2023.”
Overall
In essence, the Benitses Marina, once a vital fishing port, has evolved into a significant tourist hub.
Its journey through history, challenges, and recent developments is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of this picturesque village on the shores of Corfu.
Whether you’re a traveler seeking a glimpse into the island’s heritage or a maritime enthusiast eager to explore the Ionian Sea, Benitses Marina offers an array of experiences and stories waiting to be discovered.
With a perfect blend of shingle and sand, well-organized sunbeds, and easy access to water sports, these beaches offer a dreamlike setting for lounging and adventure alike
Benitses was the first tourist destination on Corfu since the 1960s. But why you should visit Benitses now? We give you at least 6 good reasons to do it!
This Benitses picture of 1981 shows the entire area of Benitses almost from Koutsomaroula bay up to Laopetra, seems to been pulled from the base of the then old pier in the harbor
Benitses has some very old and beautiful buildings, some of them more than 5 centuries old. We tried to collect as many information we could about the most important of them
The disease caused by the new Coronavirus was named COVID-19 and despite early predictions, within a short time, it spread beyond the borders of China, around the world.
An episodic Derby became today at the small stadium of Agioi Deka, from one side the experience and strong football team of Benitses and the other the young and very fast team of the spectators
If you can’t live without Alexa, you can install this Firefox plugin and still get access to the Alexa ranking system, which is still alive and counting!
This is a page dedicated to F.C Benitses, the Athletics football club of Benitses.
The foundation of Benitses football club
It was the early 70’s in Benitses when the first embankment in a portion of the old harbor with a view to transferring the old highway to its present location, was almost completed.The huge space that was created was available for the first time to young people and too many children of the time, this place transformed quickly into a football vacant lot, it was an area of about 60 by 40 meters large, enough space for the children to exercise their football skills all day.
Then the idea for a football team dropped by some, it did not take much thought, some people agreed and after some discussions, they decided to establish a sports club with football as the main sporting activity.
The first general meeting of the founding members was at 30 of January 1971 in which among other things they decided to establish an athletic club under the name: “ATHLETIC FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF BENITSES”, the statutes were also approved by the General Assembly at November 30, 1971
Also appointed that the club celebrates on the 12th of December!
Validation of the Statute in the Court of Corfu took place the 10/5/1972!
The 25 founding members of the club were:
KONTOS NIKOLAOS of BASILEIOS
KAPSOKAVADIS MICHAEL of KONSTANTINOS
KONTOS ANDREAS of ANASTASIOS
SPINOULAS GEORGE of APOSTOLOS
SPINOULAS GEORGE of ANTONIOS
SPINOULAS SPIROS of ANTONIOS
MEGALOGENIS THANASIS of NIKOLAOS
GIANOULIS GERASIMOS of STEFANOS
PAGRAKIOTIS PETROS of PISISTRATOS
POULIS SPIROS of NIKOLAOS
ZOHIOS KOSTAS of ALEXANDROS
ZOHIOS SPIROS of MICHAEL
ZOHIOS KOSTAS of NIKOLAOS
ASPIOTIS ANDREAS of GEORGE
MORAITIS JOHN of THEOFANIS
MANESSIS STEFANOS of PETROS
LITSARDOPOULOS THEODOROS of THEMISTOKLES
ATSALIS ANTONIOS of ATHANASIOS
ANDRIOTIS SOTIRIOS of SPIRIDON
SPINOULAS GEORGE of THEOCHARIS
STRATHGOS NAPOLEON of ANASTASIOS
SPINOULAS KOSTAS of THEOCHARIS
POULIS DIMITRIOS of CHRISTODOULOS
KOK GABRIEL
RALF AUGUST
We collect and will soon add historical details on the progress of the team from 1971 until today, in which categories have taken place, which persons have served as presidents of the team, what distinctions and championships the team has won, and how after several years of inactivity the club became active again in 2012, winning after an excellent performance during the first competitive year (2012-13) the anode to the local A division.
The administration of the team is always in direct contact with the supporters who love the team, also the team maintains websites in social networks (Facebook, etc. ) with which those who live away from home are informed about the results and the efforts of the club.
With a perfect blend of shingle and sand, well-organized sunbeds, and easy access to water sports, these beaches offer a dreamlike setting for lounging and adventure alike
Benitses was the first tourist destination on Corfu since the 1960s. But why you should visit Benitses now? We give you at least 6 good reasons to do it!
This Benitses picture of 1981 shows the entire area of Benitses almost from Koutsomaroula bay up to Laopetra, seems to been pulled from the base of the then old pier in the harbor
Benitses has some very old and beautiful buildings, some of them more than 5 centuries old. We tried to collect as many information we could about the most important of them
History of Benitses begins when it was first inhabited,
This was in ancient times and was because of the abundant freshwater springs with which the area was favored.
It is estimated that 80% of the water in Corfu is in the hills here, stemming from the limestone rocks of the mountains of Stavros and Agioi Deka which surround the valley.
The ruins of Roman baths and other finds demonstrate that not only was it inhabited but that it was also a particularly important part of the island.
At the period of the British domination of the island, the water springs here were channeled and an aqueduct built to provide Corfu Town with water, but the Romans almost two thousand years earlier had created something similar, their persistence in building projects such as aqueducts, roads, etc. is famous.
In 1269CE Charles Anjou, the French King of Sicily, occupied the whole island of Corfu, hence followed the ‘period of Anjou,’ it was then that the island was divided into four departments-regions called Gyrou, Orous, Mesis, and Lefkimis respectively – names that are still in use today.
In the battles that took place then were also ships from Genoa.
One of them sank off the old fortress and all the surviving sailors swam ashore.
The conditions of the time did not allow them to return home and so they remained on the island.
One detail, the Genoese captain was called Spinoula, and all the sailors were named after him by the local people, and finally, they all ended up with the surname Spinoulas.
This is a story regarding the origin of the many Spinoulas families around the island, which we have no reason to doubt because it was told to us by a member of the Spinoulas family!
In 1537 the Turks in one of several failed attempts to seize the town of Corfu took 20.000 men from the rural areas prisoners and sold them as slaves in the slave markets of Egypt and Constantinople.
This was a massive humanitarian disaster and nearly caused the extinction of the island population, the countryside was devastated and there were not enough people to cultivate the land and tend the olives which were the main product of the island.
The Venetians saw the danger and gave privileges and land to those from the Ottoman occupied Greece who wanted to come and settle in Corfu.
So a wave of immigration was created, mainly from Epirus, mainland Greece, the Peloponnese, and even Crete.
The vast majority of residents of Benitses come from those who settled here at that time, the names with two syllables as Zochios, Bellos, Boikos, Kontos, Nastoulis, etc.. come from Epirus and especially an area called Souli.
The name Moraitis is from the Morea (Peloponnese),.
Many others whose names end in ..opoulos came from the Peloponnese and others from the island of Crete.
Most of the present inhabitants of Benitses (about 70%) have their distant origins from Epirus.
Origin of the name Benitses
There are several theories about the origin of the name, and many resemble the folk tales told by older people.
One of them says that the name belonged to a pirate who came to admire and loot the village, while others say that the pirate’s boat was called Benitses!
This theory is more like a legend that has little to do with reality, but it adds color to our history.
The true origin of the name Benitses is clearly shown in official government documents from the period of the Angevins and before the Venetian period when even in the 13th century the area was referred to as Penitisai, a word derived from the Ancient Greek word “Penio” that means a place that has rivers and is generally rich in waters.
Indeed Benitses is rich in water and used to have two small rivers which reached the sea where the harbor is now.
Later the name Penitisai changed over the years into Penitsai and finally into the current Benitses.
So the people settled on the banks of the river during the Middle Ages, and this river and its sources helped them survive and flourish.
Millstones were built near the springs and the river was used for the boats that went to the Mills carrying flour and olives from all around the coast of Corfu.
Much later, in the early 20th century conditions changed, the mills did not produce enough and were not able to feed the growing population.
So residents turned to fish and the river passing through the village was a hindrance, so they blocked the flow in the riverbed and the river followed another direction and now flows to where the hotel Potamaki, is today.
The old riverbed was turned into a road which is now the main street of the old village.
It’s not possible to see the mouth of the river (Trafos in local dialect) today because it has shrunk that much that you pass it without noticing.
The life and habits of inhabitants changed radically with the advent of mass tourism that began in the 60s and reached a peak in the 80s.
Benitses today
Today Benitses is in a transitional period, trying to attract discerning visitors by upgrading the infrastructure whilst preserving the traditional style which it has never lost.
Most residents are involved in tourism but do not forget the tradition of fishing, especially in winter.
The young people today have a very different professional approach because they see that tourism is not the only option, they have traveled and studied, many abroad, and come back with a wide range of qualifications, a world is open to them that their grandparents could not possibly have foreseen.
In Benitses there will always be fresh fish sold often still alive as they come out from the sea …
The sea here is full of the sea plant “Posidonia”, this might not be liked by the swimmers but the plant is responsible for the abundant supply of especially delicious fish, as well as the great clarity of the sea.
With a perfect blend of shingle and sand, well-organized sunbeds, and easy access to water sports, these beaches offer a dreamlike setting for lounging and adventure alike
Benitses was the first tourist destination on Corfu since the 1960s. But why you should visit Benitses now? We give you at least 6 good reasons to do it!
This Benitses picture of 1981 shows the entire area of Benitses almost from Koutsomaroula bay up to Laopetra, seems to been pulled from the base of the then old pier in the harbor
Benitses has some very old and beautiful buildings, some of them more than 5 centuries old. We tried to collect as many information we could about the most important of them
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