Corfu Travel Blog: An Insider’s View of Corfu Greece

Last updated on November 7th, 2023 at 01:12 pm

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.

Outside the bakery 1953

Vaso and Dionysia

Unknown Belltower

Thodoros in Kairo

Uncle George and children

Avra Hotel staff 1972 1973

Spiros Ksouris

Sofia Martzoka

Nio and Kostas Martzokas

Parmenidis house from Limeri

Parmenidis house from east

Parmenidis Mansion

Parmenidis Mansion

Parmenidis Mansion

Sofia sister of Tatsis Lampitsis

Sofoklis father

Parmenidis and wife

Parmenidis Mansion

Parmenidis Mansion inside

Parmenidis wife in the garden

Parmenidis wife in the garden

Parmenidis wife in the garden

Parmenidis wife

Pagona, Louiza, Nionios at Kapsoukias restaurant

Pagona, Aspasia, Loris

All together

Antreas Kontos family

Sofia Martzokas marriage

Nionios and Mpampakos

Nionios, Aspasia

Nionios

Nikos and Giannis Kapsokavadis

Benitsa Hotel at 1980

Benitses from Parmenidis house 1940

Moulis and company

Mitsos and Eleni

Kostas Martzokas

Maria Martzoka

Lampitsis with family 1945

Nionios out of Spiros on the Beach

Giorgis Lampitsis

Giorgis Antipas house 1930

Giannis Kapsokavadis

Sofoklis grandmother Phoni

Antreas Kontos marriage at Kapsoukias restaurant

Antreas Kontos marriage

Alex Martzokas on a Donkey

Benitses 1911

Apokremiotis marriage

A Benitses celebration

All Benitses Old Photos

Benitses of 1950, the Harbor, the Fishing Boats and the Celebrities

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In these photos we can see what Benitses looked like in 1950, We can see the two characteristic creeks, the Port and Koutsomaroula bay, as they appear from the hill of Agios Stefanos

Benitses Old Photos (9th Group)

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This is the ninth group on old photographs with some people and landscapes from Benitses of the past, most in black and white

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (8th Group)

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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

Benitses Old Photos (6th Group)

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This is the sixth group on old photographs especially with people, all photos after digital processing to remove the signs of aging

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (7th Group)

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This is the seventh group with photographs mostly of the decade of the ’70s In the future, there will be more pictures added.

Benitses Old Photos (5th Group)

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In this 5th group of our Benitses old photos collection, there are mainly people of the families of Martzokas, Kontos, Kapsokavadis, Spinoulas, and others

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.

School parade – Benitses

Spiros on the Beach 1980

Zervas and Lampros on a horse-drawn carriage

Junta dances in Kokkoli at Agioi Deka

Benitses Choir at Agios Stefanos 1952

In Benitses Skaloma

Vaso, Marika, Noula, Foula, Nikos 1954

Tsantouris at Vaska

Fishermen with Trawl

Geventis’s in-laws 1950

The crate of Poulakias

The small pier of 1965

Thisavros Super Market 1977

The good old days in Spiros on the Beach

The good old days in Spiros on the Beach

The good old days in Spiros on the Beach

Lucky games with coins

School parade in Benitses

School 1968

School 1960

School 1954

School 1933

South Benitses 1977

At the river bridge

At San Stefano chapel

In the port of Benitses 1950

In Benitses old port

At Lotza area

Stefanos and Ntanta

Τhe boats on the seaweed

Τhe boats on the seaweed

Τhe boats on the seaweed

Spyros and Giannis dancing

Τhe boats on the seaweed 1960

Benitses Skaloma 1960

Τhe boats on the seaweed

Benitses Skaloma 1960

Skaloma – Bus in the seaweed 1960

Road to Parmenidis mansion

Tonis, Menelaos, Nionios

Giorgos Pagrakiotis, Spiros Kontos

Aspasia Spinoula and Aleksantra Litsardopoulou

Lamb on the spit

From Parmenidis to the south

Anna Kontou, Sofia Goggaki

Anna, Noula, Sofia

Aleksantra and Aspasia

Aleksantra

Alekos, Maria

Alekos, Giannis, Mio

All Benitses Old Photos

Benitses of 1950, the Harbor, the Fishing Boats and the Celebrities

| | |

In these photos we can see what Benitses looked like in 1950, We can see the two characteristic creeks, the Port and Koutsomaroula bay, as they appear from the hill of Agios Stefanos

Benitses Old Photos (9th Group)

| | |

This is the ninth group on old photographs with some people and landscapes from Benitses of the past, most in black and white

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (8th Group)

| | |

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

Benitses Old Photos (6th Group)

| | |

This is the sixth group on old photographs especially with people, all photos after digital processing to remove the signs of aging

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (7th Group)

| | |

This is the seventh group with photographs mostly of the decade of the ’70s In the future, there will be more pictures added.

Benitses Old Photos (5th Group)

| | |

In this 5th group of our Benitses old photos collection, there are mainly people of the families of Martzokas, Kontos, Kapsokavadis, Spinoulas, and others

Last updated on November 7th, 2023 at 01:12 pm

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.

Skaloma – Litany out of Bellos cafe

Fishermen 1955

Benitses Women workers

The old kiosk

Benitses Skaloma car traffic 1960

Benitses Skaloma main road 1960

Benitses Skaloma Seaweed

Sapounadas, Zaxos, Goros thanasis

Fishermen in Anemomilos Corfu

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Fishermen in Benitses

Spiros Poulis

Benitses – Itinerant traders

People of Benitses 1970

Benitses – Out of the boat

Benitses old port pier

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port construction

Benitses old port pier

Benitses old port pier

Benitses old port pier

Benitses old port pier

Palaiokastritsa

Benitses – Workers of the countryside

Benitses – Workers of the countryside

Benitses – Workers of the countryside

Benitses – Workers of the countryside

Benitses – Workers of the countryside

Benitses – Next to Laopetra

The Bridge to Vlacherna

First French Camping in Dassia

Between the olive trees of Laopetra

All Benitses Old Photos

Benitses of 1950, the Harbor, the Fishing Boats and the Celebrities

| | |

In these photos we can see what Benitses looked like in 1950, We can see the two characteristic creeks, the Port and Koutsomaroula bay, as they appear from the hill of Agios Stefanos

Benitses Old Photos (9th Group)

| | |

This is the ninth group on old photographs with some people and landscapes from Benitses of the past, most in black and white

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (8th Group)

| | |

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

Benitses Old Photos (6th Group)

| | |

This is the sixth group on old photographs especially with people, all photos after digital processing to remove the signs of aging

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (7th Group)

| | |

This is the seventh group with photographs mostly of the decade of the ’70s In the future, there will be more pictures added.

Benitses Old Photos (5th Group)

| | |

In this 5th group of our Benitses old photos collection, there are mainly people of the families of Martzokas, Kontos, Kapsokavadis, Spinoulas, and others

Last updated on November 7th, 2023 at 01:13 pm

The second group of our large collection of Benitses old photos, mainly with photos of Benitses landscapes and religious events.

The Gate of Vlastos property – Benitses

Benitses port 1977

Laopetra

Father of Napoleon

Easter at Benitses 1980

Funeral in Benitses

Antigonis Old house

Fishermen at Paipetis

The Gate of Vlastos property – Benitses

Koutsomaroula bay

Koutsomaroula bay

Koutsomaroula bay

Boats in Benitses old port

Boats in Benitses old port

Youngsters of 40s

Youngsters of 40s

Napoleon Stratigos

Benitses of 1863 lithography

Mitogkas at Agioi Deka

An Old woman with a child

Menelaos

Pagiati Mary

Pavlos and Rini at Spinoulas restaurant

Loula

A Litany at Chontrakia 1963

A Litany with Papapetros

Litany 2000

Litany 1950

Litany 1960

Benitses port paint

Benitses port at 1960

Benitses port at 1960

Lemonas in a Litany

Boats in Laopetra

Benitses – Boats in the old port pier

Vegetation in Laopetra

The road from Benitses to Corfu 1977

The road from Benitses to Corfu 1977

Swimmers in Laopetra

Laopetra unter the shadow

Nudism in Laopetra 1912

Laopetra from the road above

Laopetra 1910

Laopetra – Engraving

Laopetra

Laopetra

Laopetra

Laopetra

Laopetra

George Antipas House 1930

All Benitses Old Photos

Benitses of 1950, the Harbor, the Fishing Boats and the Celebrities

| | |

In these photos we can see what Benitses looked like in 1950, We can see the two characteristic creeks, the Port and Koutsomaroula bay, as they appear from the hill of Agios Stefanos

Benitses Old Photos (9th Group)

| | |

This is the ninth group on old photographs with some people and landscapes from Benitses of the past, most in black and white

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (8th Group)

| | |

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

Benitses Old Photos (6th Group)

| | |

This is the sixth group on old photographs especially with people, all photos after digital processing to remove the signs of aging

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (7th Group)

| | |

This is the seventh group with photographs mostly of the decade of the ’70s In the future, there will be more pictures added.

Benitses Old Photos (5th Group)

| | |

In this 5th group of our Benitses old photos collection, there are mainly people of the families of Martzokas, Kontos, Kapsokavadis, Spinoulas, and others

Last updated on November 7th, 2023 at 01:13 pm

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.

Historical references.

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

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.

Photos

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.

Untitled 60

Theodoros Manesis with company in San Stefano

Tourists at San Stefano property

Tourists at San Stefano property

Visitor at San Stefano property

untitled 10

unknown33

Sofia Vraila in the piano

Petros Manesis in Veranda – September 1934

San Stefano Chapel from veranda

San Stefano Bell tower 1940

San Stefano Bell tower 1915

San Stefano Bell tower

At San Stefano 1917

At San Stefano Hill

Venetian Well in Corfu town

Antreas Skevoulis marriage – July 2th 1950

Manesis family car – October 8th 1920

Manesis family car – November 1934

Manesis family car – March 1927

San Stefano Estate veranda

San Stefano house – August 1925

San Stefano house – August 1925

San Stefano house from the estate

San Stefano house 1915

San Stefano house

King Konstantinos 1912

Manesis family car 1927

Niki Ralli in her car

Manesis family car 1927

Honeymoon 1949

An Unknown General

Lilly Flabouriari – August 18th 1918

Manesis family in veranda 1915

At San Stefano house veranda 1919

Lilly Flabouriari – 1917

At San Stefano house 1900

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.

Working Women in the farm 1927

Women 1910

July 1927

July 1927

Girl with Bucket 1930

Girl with broken pot

Girls washing clothes – July 1927

Girl on pit 1930

A Girl – July 1927

A girl at 1915

A girl at 1912

A girl 1913

A girl 1913

A girl 1913

A girl 1913

Entrance of San Stefano Estate 1920

A woman with a pot at San Stefano Balcony

A woman with a pot at San Stefano Balcony 1921

Women at San Stefano Balcony 1921

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

All Benitses Old Photos

Benitses of 1950, the Harbor, the Fishing Boats and the Celebrities

| | |

In these photos we can see what Benitses looked like in 1950, We can see the two characteristic creeks, the Port and Koutsomaroula bay, as they appear from the hill of Agios Stefanos

Benitses Old Photos (9th Group)

| | |

This is the ninth group on old photographs with some people and landscapes from Benitses of the past, most in black and white

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (8th Group)

| | |

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

Benitses Old Photos (6th Group)

| | |

This is the sixth group on old photographs especially with people, all photos after digital processing to remove the signs of aging

Benitses Old Photos from the 70s (7th Group)

| | |

This is the seventh group with photographs mostly of the decade of the ’70s In the future, there will be more pictures added.

Benitses Old Photos (5th Group)

| | |

In this 5th group of our Benitses old photos collection, there are mainly people of the families of Martzokas, Kontos, Kapsokavadis, Spinoulas, and others