Bochali Castle

The castle is located on the hill of Bochali district, in the picturesque town of Zakynthos. It is one of the most beautiful areas where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the whole island. The exact date of construction of the castle is unknown, but its walls are made of carved stone, the shape of which resembles the walls of Cretan castles. In ancient times, the Acropolis stood on the site of the castle. In 1480 most of the castle was destroyed by the Turks and then by an earthquake. Only in 1515 the castle was rebuilt and added cannons, a large gate and a bell that served as the town clock. On the third entrance gate and on the walls you can notice the famous Venetian coat of arms “The Lion of St. Mark”. The Venetians reinforced the walls, towers and built beautiful buildings with modern water and sewage systems. In Venetian times, the castle was the capital of the island, where the administrative buildings were located. Numerous earthquakes have changed the shape of the old town, of which only a little remains today. During a walk through the area you can see several surviving buildings, such as the prison with stone vaulted ceilings, the gunpowder building, the main bastion, the remains of the sewage system, the ruins of churches, the command post, barracks and the stadium built during the British occupation.