The port of Aigio in the late 19th century

The port of Aigio, also known historically as Vostitsa, was the second-largest export hub for black currants in Greece by the end of the 19th century. The "Primarolia", the first commercial ships loaded with the season’s earliest and finest black currant harvest, would set sail from the ports of Aigio, Patras, and other towns in northwestern Peloponnese, heading to major European ports like London, Liverpool, Amsterdam, Marseille, Trieste, and Odessa. These cities served as distribution centers for this valuable product throughout the European mainland. The exceptional quality of Aigialeia’s currants brought great wealth to the region, so much so that the era came to be known as the "currant civilization" of the 19th century—marked by a rise in living standards and a life of prosperity. For years, currants from Aigialeia and the Peloponnese dominated the country’s exports, accounting for more than 50%, "like Brazil with its coffee." However, this prosperity was followed by crisis and decline. As it was said, people "woke up one day suddenly from rich to poor, from debt-free to drowning in debt." The infamous "Unfortunately, we are bankrupt" declaration by Prime Minister Charilaos Trikoupis in 1893 marked the end of this golden era. It ushered in a period of poverty, unrest, wars, migration, and global economic downturn.

Pictured: View of the Port of Aigio in the late 19th century.

©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.