Bohali Venetian Castle is located in the hills above
Zakynthos Town, it’s around 2 kilometres from the centre of the capital and that’s just a 5 minute drive or a 20 minute walk, it is up hill though so keep that in mind and don’t forget your water.
The Venetians controlled
Zakynthos for hundreds of years and the Mediterranean empire certainly left its mark. This hilltop park is a picture-perfect spot for relaxing walks or stunning photo ops. The castle was constructed in the 15th century atop the island’s ancient acropolis and they regularly made improvements and renovations during their reign, even when it was ransacked by rival Turks or damaged by natural disasters.
Today, archaeological excavations of the ruins continue to uncover snippets of the island’s past. As you explore the grounds, you’ll see the remains of prisons, churches and other buildings, unfortunately there’s not a huge amount left as the majority of the castle was destroyed by the Ionian earthquake in 1953, having said that it’s well worth a visit for the views alone.
The entrance fee is just 4€ and although there’s no guide or map there are a few signs up to give you a bit of info as you make your way around the site.
Getting to Bohali castle is pretty straight forward as it’s just off the main road through Bochali village, there’s car parking right outside but there’s not a huge amount of spaces so it sometimes ends up full and you have to park at the roadside.
