Castle of Bouka

The Castle of Bouka was a significant Ottoman shore castle and citadel located in Preveza, within the Epirus region of northwestern Greece. Constructed in 1478 under the orders of Sultan Mehmed II, the fortress was built from hewn ashlar stone to strategically control the narrow straits of the Ambracian Gulf. Its name derives from the Italian word bocca, meaning mouth, reflecting its position at the entrance to the gulf. The structure served as the first major Ottoman fortification in the area, housing a garrison that grew from fifteen soldiers in the late fifteenth century to over two hundred by 1670. Throughout its operational life, the castle underwent several improvements by Ottoman engineers and later by Venetian forces who captured the site in 1684.

Historically, the castle played a pivotal role in regional military conflicts for over two centuries, changing hands between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice. Its existence ended dramatically in 1701 when Venetian forces demolished the structure by blowing it up prior to handing Preveza back to the Ottomans, a move mandated by the Treaty of Karlowitz. Following its destruction, the site, known locally as Paliosaraga or Old Seraglio, remained largely undeveloped. In the early nineteenth century, Ali Pasha of Yannina utilized the ruins to construct his summer seraglio, and later, after the Greek Army captured Preveza in 1912, the location served as a military supply unit base.

Today, the Castle of Bouka exists in a state of total ruin, with very few physical remains visible despite the site avoiding extensive modern construction. Although the original architectural features have largely vanished due to deliberate demolition and centuries of decay, the location holds considerable historical importance regarding the naval and territorial struggles between Venice and the Ottoman Empire. The site is currently owned by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports and remains open to the public. Visitors can explore the grounds where the once-mighty citadel stood, viewing the area through the lens of its layered past involving imperial conquests, strategic demolitions, and subsequent reuse by notable historical figures like Ali Pasha.