The Venetians conquered Preveza in 1684, but less than two decades later they were forced to return it to the Ottomans. The agreement stated, though, that they had to evacuate and demolish the castle of Bouka. The Ottomans invited the people of Preveza to remain, but most of them departed with the Venetians and settled in the island of Lefkas. It took the Venetians thirty days to complete the destruction of the towers and the walls. Some of them were blown up with gunpowder, while other parts of the castle were bombarded with cannonballs. Some towers were completely destroyed, while others only partially. The ruins remained lying on the ground for more than a century.