In our opinion, the legs of the old benches, should be left as they are, obviously they must be restored with new wood, appropriate to the action of atmospheric agents, perhaps with stainless steel bolts, but the legs, since they are eternal you can leave with antique paint, with craquelure.
The type of wood that we recommend first is the European Oak (Quercus pubescens), secondly the European Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) incorruttible but difficult to find. 

The cost of sandblasting and painting of the alone legs amounts to € 210.00 including VAT (any color of the RAL table).