Bochali: Venetian Castle and Panorama

Bochali brings together history and views: Bochali Castle was built on the ruins of the ancient Acropolis of Psophis. The Venetian castle of Zakynthos offers panoramic views of Zakynthos Town and the Ionian Sea. This provides a concrete starting point when choosing a holiday apartment: would you mainly like to experience the castle and its views, or are you also considering other cultural and natural attractions on Zakynthos?

Bochali Castle and its historical layers

The castle’s history began before the Venetian structure was built. Its construction on the ruins of the ancient Acropolis of Psophis brings together two clearly distinct historical periods in one place. This is what makes Bochali Castle more than a viewpoint: views of the city and sea sit alongside a tangible history that reaches back to antiquity.

If you are interested in historic sites, you can take in both the building’s history and the panorama here. The views stretch across Zakynthos Town and the Ionian Sea, while the history leads back to Psophis and its ancient acropolis. This gives Bochali a clear identity in your travel plans, without requiring you to look for several different themes in a single attraction.

Zakynthos: art, history and nature

Beyond the castle, Zakynthos offers other distinct cultural attractions. The Museum of Zakynthos displays works of the Cretan School, Cretan-Ionian icons and works of Ionian Naturalism dating from the 15th to the 19th century. At the Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians, the ground-floor mausoleum has housed the remains of national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos since 1968. By comparison, Bochali Castle offers a different historical perspective: here, the ruins of the ancient acropolis meet the Venetian castle.

The natural attractions offer different experiences, too. The Blue Caves are in the Aspros Vrachos area at Cape Skinari. Lake Keri is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention, a Natura site and a protected area within the Zakynthos National Marine Park. At the Keri Lighthouse, the focus is on panoramic views of the Ionian Sea and the Myzithres rocks at sunset. These attractions are clearly distinct: caves, a protected wetland and a place known for its evening panoramas appeal to different interests.

Volimes has its own history: the Monastery of Agios Georgios sta Gremna was founded in 1535. The village also has a culinary specialty. Zakynthian Ladotyri cheese is made in local dairies and home workshops and sold as a local product. For travel plans that include an interest in regional produce, this cheese adds a distinctive local touch to the cultural and natural attractions.

Agios Nikolaos harbour in Volimes is another useful point of reference when planning onward travel: it is a seaport and connects Zakynthos with Kefalonia by ferry. If this connection is relevant to your trip, check the current schedule in advance.

How your interests can guide your accommodation choice

The places mentioned here appeal to different travel interests: Bochali Castle combines ancient and Venetian history with panoramic views of the city and sea; the museums focus on art and commemorations of poets; and the natural attractions include caves, protected areas and scenic views. Volimes adds monastic history, cheese-making and the ferry port. These differences can help you first decide which experiences matter most to your trip, then search more specifically for the right place for your holiday apartment.

If you are planning a family trip, different interests may play a part: you may want to give varying priority to historic sites, natural attractions and local products. Bochali is the place to consider if the castle and panoramic views particularly appeal to you. If you would like a wider range of attractions, it is worth including other places on Zakynthos in your plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lithakia, Keri, Tragaki, Zakinthos, Kallithea, Volímai, Askos, Sakynthos.

Back to the main travel guide: Zakynthos.