Camping Ionion Beach: The Fligos Family Legacy
We arrived at Ionion Beach Camping for the first time on Wednesday 7 February 1996, just over 27 years ago. In many return visits since then (we were often two of the ‘Winter People’), it has been a real privilege to meet all four generations of the Fligos family. As the years took their toll on the founders, their legacy grew and now Ionion Beach Camping is the premier site in Greece and stands comparison with the best throughout Europe: our 28 years of full-time motorhoming and cycling can attest to that!
In his own words, Michael Fligos describes how in 1979 he created the Ionion Beach Campsite in the northwest of the Greek Peloponnese. Below that are some very recent photographs of the Fligos family grave at the church of Saint Marina in the nearby village of Glyfa.
Barry and Margaret Williamson
Ionion Beach Camping
16 March 2023
In his own words, Michael Fligos describes how in 1979 he created the Ionion Beach Campsite in the northwest of the Greek Peloponnese. Below that are some very recent photographs of the Fligos family grave at the church of Saint Marina in the nearby village of Glyfa.
Barry and Margaret Williamson
Ionion Beach Camping
16 March 2023
Michael writes:
“I was born in 1944 in Korinth. My parents were both shepherds. As a young child I helped with the chores. We used to spend the summers in the mountain with the sheep and in the winter we were obliged to seek grasslands in the plains.
One day, after a fourteen day travel we arrived at Glyfa. We liked the area from the very start and decided to buy a piece of land and settle permanently in the area. It was there where I met and married my wife Anna with whom we have two sons Theodore and George.
“I was born in 1944 in Korinth. My parents were both shepherds. As a young child I helped with the chores. We used to spend the summers in the mountain with the sheep and in the winter we were obliged to seek grasslands in the plains.
One day, after a fourteen day travel we arrived at Glyfa. We liked the area from the very start and decided to buy a piece of land and settle permanently in the area. It was there where I met and married my wife Anna with whom we have two sons Theodore and George.
The land at the Ionion Beach campsite today was bought by my father in 1972. When I took over the premises, potatoes and watermelons were cultivated in the area as well as the nearby areas. This was a difficult task because the sea water did not help the vegetation. I had decided to change profession and become a truck driver. I had already paid off the truck, when one day at a canteen a tourist gave me the idea to create a camping site on the land there since it was an ideal spot.
The Ionion Beach campsite started out in 1979. That year, we received a licence to run the premises as a camping site. The following year, we started refining the premises by planting trees and constructing the first buildings. 11 July 1982 the Ionion Beach campsite started running, still having plenty of space for potatoes.
However, due to the rising forthcoming of customers at the Ionion Beach campsite we abandoned the potatoes for good. By word of the mouth advertisement from our customers helped us tremendously, and so we bought the land next to us, where in 1991 we started building apartments, which started running in 1993. In 1996 the swimming pool was set up as well as the beach bar.
There is not enough time to refer to all the reconstructions and improvements made, however each year we never stop to surprise our customers with something new. We can take pride in the large number of steady customers that we have - something, which to us means that they enjoy being with us - a fact which makes us the best camping site in Greece.”
There is not enough time to refer to all the reconstructions and improvements made, however each year we never stop to surprise our customers with something new. We can take pride in the large number of steady customers that we have - something, which to us means that they enjoy being with us - a fact which makes us the best camping site in Greece.”
Ionion Beach Camping Today!!
Michael's mother Georgina passed away in 2001 aged 85, whilst his father Theodore lived until 2008 when at his passing he was aged 104.
Wednesday the first of March this year (2023) saw the passing of Michael at the age of 79. He is succeeded by his wife Anna and their two sons. Theodore and George continue Michael's work of developing and keeping the Ionion Beach campsite as the best in Greece, recently awarded the ACSI title of best campsite swimming pool in Greece!
Here are some very recent photographs of the Fligos family grave at the church of Saint Marina in the nearby village of Glyfa.
Wednesday the first of March this year (2023) saw the passing of Michael at the age of 79. He is succeeded by his wife Anna and their two sons. Theodore and George continue Michael's work of developing and keeping the Ionion Beach campsite as the best in Greece, recently awarded the ACSI title of best campsite swimming pool in Greece!
Here are some very recent photographs of the Fligos family grave at the church of Saint Marina in the nearby village of Glyfa.