Qaitbey Citadel is one of the most effective defensive castles on the Mediterranean coast, located east of Pharos Island in Alexandria.
This Citadel was built by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Abou Anasr Saif El-Din Qaitbay El-Jerkasy Al-Zahiry in 1477 to protect the northern borders of Egypt from the attacks of the Ottomans. Ibn Iyas said that work on this castle began in the month of Rabi’ I 882 AH, and its construction ended in the month of Sha’ban 884 AH. Also, it was used as weapons stores and barracks for soldiers.
The Qaitbay Citadel was built, where the place of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. This lighthouse was built in the Ptolemaic period, but it was destroyed by the earthquake in 1303. Stones of this lighthouse were reused in the construction of this castle.
The Mamluk sultans were interested in taking care of the castle and maintaining it to protect the eastern borders, such as Sultan Qanswa Al-Ghouri. Also, the Ottomans and Muhammad Ali Pasha took care of this castle as they renovated and restored it, but it was destroyed due to the bombing of the British navy of Alexandria in 1882.
In 2005, The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities began restoring the citadel and establishing a maritime museum there to become one of the most important landmarks of Alexandria.
The castle consists of 3 floors:
- The first floor contains the mosque.
The second floor has corridors and halls that were used to store weapons and supplies- The third floor contains the Sultan’s Hall from which to watch the movement of ships and a bakery to prepare food for the soldiers.
you can visit Qaitbey Citadel with Alexandria Attractions
