The Venetian castle of Zakynthos stands on the hill of Bochali above the town, reached by a road that winds up through the pines or by a steep path from the upper town. The kastro was built in the 14th century on the site of earlier Byzantine fortifications and was the administrative centre of the island during the 430 years of Venetian rule. The walls are largely intact, and the interior is now an open archaeological site with the ruins of churches, vaulted storerooms, and cisterns scattered among the trees.
The real reason to come up here is the view. On a clear day you can see the entire eastern coast of the island, the strait to the Peloponnese mainland, and in good conditions, Kefalonia and Ithaca to the north. The pine forest inside the walls makes it a pleasant place to walk even in summer heat. From the village of Bochali just below the castle, a string of tavernas with terrace tables overlooks the town and harbour.