Benitses
The picturesque fishing village of Benitses lies 1.5Km from Hotel Kaiser Bridge.
With the recent addition of a Marina, the village has become a cosmopolitan spot yet without losing its picturesque character and traditional atmosphere. Each morning the quayside fills with small local fishing boats, with fishermen setting up stalls to sell their fresh fish.
A stroll around the narrow paved streets reveals beautiful traditional shops and tavernas, as well as several small supermarkets and a chemist. For those of you who prefer swimming in swimming pools, you will find several in Benitses open to the public. Benitses also has a Travel office which can help you arrange boat trips from the marina to the nearby islands of Paxos and Antipaxos, as well as trips to the mainland and Albania.
If you enjoy walking there are some lovely walks starting off from the side of the Hotel and taking you up through olive groves, winding through footpaths taking you all the way up to the Achilleon Palace in the village of Gastouri and then continuing to the quaint mountain villages of Agios Deka and Stavro, also going down through to the village of Benitses to the water springs and Roman ruins.
Achillion Palace is located in the village of Gastouri just 1.5 km above Kaiser Bridge Hotel. It is one of the most famous imperial summer palaces in Europe as it was originally the summer residence of Elisabeth (Sissy), Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary and later of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.
The palace was built in 1890 and is the most popular monument of Corfu, visited by thousands of tourists every year. The whole property abounds with paintings and statues of Achilles created by famous artists, depicting the heroic and tragic scenes of the Trojan War.
The numerous statues, works of art and amazing landscaped gardens create a romantic environment that takes visitors back in time. The stunning views and imposing atmosphere offer unforgettable moments of relaxation. Achillion Palace occupies a large part of Gastouri village ending up at the coastal road where Kaiser Wilhelm II had a stone bridge built in order to connect the Achillion gardens with the beachfront.
This bridge is the renowned “Kaiser Bridge” which is located next to our hotel. Although the central part of the bridge was destroyed during World War II, the monument maintains its splendour and reflects the style and luxury of Achillion Palace.