 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Home |
 |
Rooms |
|
Amenities |
|
Prices |
|
Groups |
|
Weddings |
|
About Us |
|
Contact Us |
|
Jobs |
|
Bella Studios |
| Useful Info |
|
Benitses |
|
Corfu |
|
Events |
|
Activities |
|
Easter |
|
Maps |
|
Car Hire |
|
Italy Ferries |
|
Corfu Ferries |
 UK |
 GR |
 DE |
 RU |
 IT |
 FR |
 ES |
 PL |
 HU |
 RO |
 RS |
 SE |
 SK |
 FI |
 CN |
 BG |
 LT |
 LV |
 AL |
|
Benitses
 |
Welcome to Benitses, Corfu, Greece.
Benitses is a small cute little fishing village located in the beautiful Corfu
countryside, in the middle of the island and close to beautiful Old Corfu town centre. Benitses offers a great combination of beach and mountain, old and new, traditional and modern. The village offers safe relaxing peaceful and affordable holidays with choice of quality hotels, restaurants, cafe - bars, a new yachts' marina and sightseeing. On this page you will find information about quality Benitses hotels, restaurants, bars and the beautiful Benitses walking trails. It is contradicting combination of the traditional with modern life that makes Benitses an attractive base for holiday makers from all over the world.  |
The local community is friendly, welcoming and open to different cultures. Benitses community even though traditional, is used of accepting visitors. Locals are exceptionally friendly to visitors showing respect and participation to local Corfu culture and traditions during their holidays. We encourage our guests to accept the challenge of living and sharing a true Corfu culture during your Greek holidays. In Benitses we will do our outmost to ensure pleasurable holidays while your stay will be contributing to the live hood of the local community.
We hope to have the pleasure of sharing Benitses with you! Anthea
Benitses brief history
Benitses is a very old, traditional fishing village. Benitses lies 12 km south of Corfu Town and leads to the emerald valley. The water of the springs which flow from the mountains of Aghii Deka and Stavros, join together in two small rivers, giving the area the name Pinisse (derived from the ancient Greek word 'Pinio') = Pinitse = Benitses.
The mild climate and the natural beauty of Benitses village has attracted a lot of tourists from the beginning of the century. It is only during the last 30 years that tourism has replaced all other sources of income and now is the sole occupation of the inhabitants during the summer season.
Benitses village was discovered by the British tour operators somewhere around late 70's. The 70's and 80's brought mass tourism with lots of 18-30's partying and clubbing. The influx of mass tourism brought considerable income to this fishing community along with a cultural shock.
The famous discos and bars during the 80’s in Benitses included 'Spiros on the Beach', 'Me and Me' and 'La Mer' amongst many.
Tourism interfered with the traditional conservative way of Benitses family life. During winter families were following traditional Christian Orthodox religious practices and in summer were exposed to 'foreign values' along with all kind of freedoms. Rebellious Benitses youngsters were following the imported way of life leading into continuous resentment against mass tourism brought about by the need to earn a decent income.
Local community resistance eventually brought an end to mass British tourism of this nature in the late 80's. During the 90's Benitses made desperate attempts to reinvent itself and started presenting itself as the quiet family oriented resort that it really is. An image that is promoted still today.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Benitses today
Today Benitses offers a variety of night life suitable for everyone. In the daytime the village still acts as the meeting place for the local fishermen who set up stalls on the roadside from which they sell their fresh daily catch. Benitses restaurants range from fish taverns, charcoal-grill taverns, restaurants serving a selection of Corfu, Greek and international cuisine, traditional Greek coffee bars (kafeneion), bars serving meze (and locally produced ice-creams too) and creperies creating an evening and daytime full of choices. Corfu shopping at Benitses shops is an excellent choice as they are very reasonably priced and much cheaper than Corfu town centre. Benitses newly operated yacht harbor is expected to draw beautiful sailing vessels / yachts from all over the world.
The old village of Benitses is full of character and charm and leads to the emerald valley behind, which is crisscrossed with footpaths. One of these footpaths will take the inquisitive walker to a lushness surrounding the Benitses water works, part of the unexpected hidden wilderness. Benitses hinterland has a network of footpaths and small roads suitable for walking, jogging and cycling to discover the natural beauty of Corfu. Benitses is idyllic for nature walks along beautiful trails up to Benitses Springs and Mount Pantokrator. Walking trails lead to Stayros and Aggi Deka village with excellent views to the East and West side of the island. (**)
Benitses and responsible tourism
Changing the Nature of Benitses Tourism is contributing to making tourism better for holiday makers and local community. Benitses is constantly trying to develop responsible tourism and provide positive experiences for both the visitors and the local community. In Benitses visitors can have the opportunity of experiencing a Corfu community way of life. The local community is well known for it traditions and strong religious background. That leads to eco tourism for the area and Benitses can be the perfect place where a tourist can be a home visitor if someone is up to the challenge.
Benitses is open to more discerning travelers, who are interested in the history of Benitses and Corfu and want to learn about and take part in its culture.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Benitses beach - A Blue Flag beach (****)
Benitses beach is an organized shingle and sand beach with sun beds and umbrellas available. Benitses beach is a relatively narrow strip of a mixture of sand shingle and pebbles beach. It is common for local beach bars to offer sun beds and umbrellas for free by sunbathers taking drinks from the bar. Sun beds and umbrella rates vary between 2-3 euro per person depending on season. Water sports are available on the beach.
Water quality: Benitses beach water quality is in compliance with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water quality according to the international beach governing body of Blue flag. National beach qualification with no industrial or sewage related discharges affecting the beach area. Monitoring on the health of coral reefs located in the vicinity of the beach Benitses beach has continuously and consistently fulfilled and awarded the Blue Flag as part of the municipality of Achilion Benitses www.eepf.gr or www.blueflag.org
Beach safety: adequate number of lifeguards and/or lifesaving equipment available at the beach. There is a life guard at main Benitses beach at the village centre. (***)
Benitses beach alternatives
|
Barracuda swimming pool : Run by Elli and Marina, two sisters ! 2 euro entry fee covering umbrellas, sun bed and a drink as well - that can be a beer! Choice of local swimming pools, many without a fee entry but must buy drinks from the bar. |
10 Reasons to choose Benitses
1. Hotels and car hire at reasonable rates
2. Safe, peaceful and lively surroundings
3. Cute little fishing village with local and international cuisine restaurants
4. Close to Corfu town with regular transportation (12kms/7.5miles)
5. Walks in beautiful Benitses woodlands (jogging, hiking, cycling)
6. Seaside resort ideal for a swim or feeling the sea breeze
7. Central Corfu island location - easy access to south and north Corfu
8. Easy access to the unspoiled sandy beaches of South Corfu (15-30 min by car)
9. Benitses people's hospitality and genuine welcoming of tourists
10. Do you really want more reasons to visit us in Benitses ?
|
|||||||||||||||
Corfu Cuisine
For 411 years Corfu was a Venetian harbor, 'key' of the Adriatic was proudly named and it was only natural the passing ships to 'leave to the Corfiots many and teach them even more'. During the century of Renaissance Venice was the European centre of the trading of spices and sugar and distributed luxury and wealth all around Europe. As a consequence of the Venetian domination was the imposition of the Venetian cuisine and the Venetian way of cooking in the Corfu cuisine. The Venetians brought new products and taught the Corfiots how to eat them. Corn, tomatoes, beans, pepper, but also coffee, chocolate and many other products were brought to Corfu by the Venetians. In a very short time, however, these new products were appreciated by the Corfu inhabitants and were thus incorporated in their daily diet, reaching our days almost inalterably.
The present - day Corfu cuisine has the typical Mediterranean characteristics (the common base is the olive oil, the vegetables, the pastas and many herbs and spices) exhibiting the different influences that the island was under. The food of Corfu town is clearly Venetian.
The cuisine of the countryside is based on the agricultural products that were cultivated simultaneously with the cultivation of the olives, which was imposed by the Venetians. Common characteristic of all Corfu dishes is the tastefulness. The food and particularly the bread, was always and still is well salted, because Corfu many salt works and the salt was never absent from each household.
After so many centuries the names of traditional Corfu food dishes remain almost unchanged. The emigrations of the Greeks from the mainland Greece, even after the Union, left almost no stamp in the local cuisine. The mass spreading of classic Greek food (which contained many influences from the Turkish conquerors) took place after the Second World War.
Corfu Food
Sofrito (Venetian Soffrito): The dish includes thin slices of fried beef, with white sauce from finely chopped garlic, parsley, white pepper, white wine, salt and vinegar. It is served with rice or maspatata (mush potatoes)
Pastitsada (Venetian pastizzada): It is the most popular Corfu food and is served at the formal dinners and celebrations. It is made with beef (usually from the leg) stuffed with chopped garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. For the tomato sauce is used olive oil, onion, cinnamon, cloves, salt, pepper, nutmeg, cumin and laurel leaves. The rural pastizzada is made with cock, it is said that it is well-made only when the sauce is so thick that it dyes the moustaches. There are seafood pastizzada variations like 'lobster pastitsada'.
Bianco (Codfish-Venetian Bianco): Codfish or tope with potatoes in the saucepan with white sauce from finely chopped garlic, parsley, lemon juice and black coarse pepper.
Bourdeto (Venetian Bordeto): Boiled sea scorpion or tope or codfish fillets, well desalted, with red-hot sauce (a lot of red pepper and hot corn-peppers), which in the end is quenched with fresh lemon juice.
Tsigareli (Vegetarian) : Saute ed wild garden-stuffs with finely chopped onion and garlic, salt and red hot pepper. Good titbit for wine.
Benitses cuisine is strongly influenced by the sea and the local food is mainly variations in serving fish. Benitses is known for quality fresh fish produce. Corfu food prices start from 5 euro per person and up.
Benitses Restaurants
Klimataria tavern - Benitses and Corfu specialties served in meze style. Tel +30 26610 71201
Paxinos restaurant - Benitses fresh fish flavours and Greek cuisine Tel +30 26610 72339
Feng Shui- Corfu specialties, crepes, coffee and drinks right on the beach
Flower Garden - Chinese cuisine and Corfu home-made cooking
Flogas - Italian Pizza and Pasta
Big Bite Grill Room - Greek grilled food but also British and Indian menu!
Benitses Bars and Music cafes
Benitses is a peaceful village with many cafe and homely feeling bars. In addition there is one local nightclub as well as a few music bars.
Cheers Bar - Benitses Big screen Sky sports bar with typical British menu on display
Connection - Internet cafe / bar right on the beach with a friendly environment
Sunshine - Benitses Cafe bar excellent for fun Benitses night life
Sightseeing
|
Corfu Sea Shell Museum - Unique privately sea shell collection Benitses Springs - Excellent for walking, jogging in rich Corfu nature Achilleion Palace Corfu - Princess of Austria (Sissy) at 3kms |
Benitses and Children
Benitses village is a child friendly resort in Corfu and has become an excellent destination for couples and families. It is one of the places on Corfu that welcome children in a child - friendly hospitality. Benitses is lacking violence and is a disco / drunken - free village. The community's village children playground and the square next to it is the meeting point of local children, who play and mingle with visitors without fear. The Corfiot way of life is family oriented anyway. The Corfu Sea Shell Museum next to Benitses playground is a attraction for kids, families and visitors in general. Benitses is a village where keys are left on the door most of the day and doors are left open. Children are left to play in the streets, the square and the playground.
Benitses Suggested Itinerary
Benitses Springs - Walking and jogging in beautiful Benitses nature
Sea Shell Museum - Private Sea Shell collection at Benitses
Roman Baths - Walking and jogging in beautiful Benitses nature
Achilleion Palace - Traditional Corfu attraction
Boat Cruise Trips - From Benitses harbour to the rest of Corfu
Mount Pantokrator - Corfu walking and jogging trails
Benitses Itinery (seasonal)
July 17th - St Marina paniyiri (fiesta) at Benitses
The local paniyiri - fiesta - is celebrated on July 17th of each year at the central square of Benitses. Paniyiria are religious fiestas held all over Greece to celebrate various saints normally patrons of different areas. Benitses' Patron Saint is Saint Marina therefore the celebrations are an important event in Benitses. A stage is raised on the main square and a local band plays traditional folklore music till the early morning hours. The local folklore group all dressed in the local Corfiot costume and dance for the audience and guests. People join the dance. Bric-a-brac market is operating along the street and roasted lambs along with souvlaki, local wine and drinks are available at very cheap prices.
Benitses Area events
June 21st - Mid Summer (Ai yianni labatari Aggii Deka + Stavros - Mount Pantokrator)
July 17th - St Marina Benitses village Paniyiri/fiesta
August 6th - Pontikonisi island Paniyiri / fiesta
August 5th - Mount Pantokrator Monastery Procession
August 6th - Mount Pantokrator Monastery Paniyiri / fiesta
August 15th - Stavros village paniyiri / fiesta
August 22nd - Agii Deka village procession
August 23rd - Agii Deka village Paniyiri / fiesta
Benitses and Corfu transportation
Regular Blue Buses connect Benitses to Corfu Town Centre (every one hour approx. during summer season). Regular Green bus connect Benitses directly with South Corfu (on schedule - every 2-3 hours)
NOTES
Above information is a selected information on Benitses. All Benitses hotels, restaurants bars and Benitses apartments are very nice and differ on style and service provided. The page has been carefully selected by Anthea and is an indication of provided facilities.
(*) Represents an individual privately selection by Anthi
(**) Corfu walking expeditions are organized by Bella Vista hotel to Benitses Springs, Mount Pantokrator, Achilleion every Sunday during the summer season
(***) Lifeguard located at main Benitses beach by the village
(****) The 'Blue Flag', a symbol of quality in over 35 countries, is awarded with strict criteria to organized beaches and marinas operated by coastal municipalities, hotels and other operators. The program aims at cleanliness of sea and beach, safety and proper services for bathers and visitors, creation of environmental sensitivity and active protection of the coastal region
Check availabilty for our hotel in Corfu now...
 |
UK |
GR |
DE |
RU |
IT |
FR |
ES |
PL |
HU |
RO |
RS |
SE |
SK |
FI |
CN |
BG |
LT |
LV |
AL |
 |
| Home |
|
Rooms |
|
Amenities |
|
Prices |
|
Groups |
|
Weddings |
|
About Us |
|
Contact Us |
|
Jobs |
|
Bella Studios |
| Useful Info |
|
Benitses |
|
Corfu |
|
Events |
|
Activities |
|
Easter |
|
Maps |
|
Car Hire |
|
Italy Ferries |
|
Corfu Ferries |
