Qaitbay Citadel

In the 14th century, Sultan Qaitbey built this huge fortress to protect Alexandria from the expanding Ottoman Empire. Since the Ottomans took over Egypt in 1512, he hasn’t been able to do anything about it. However, the castle has stayed standing because of its strategic location on a narrow arm of land that goes down into Alexandria’s harbor from the corniche and looks out over the Mediterranean.

Since it was first built, there have been a few changes to how the castle is set up. In 1882, the British shelled Alexandria because a group of people called “nationalists” opposed British rule. The goal of this rebellion was to get rid of the British. Around the turn of the twentieth century, it was redone from top to bottom.

Unlike most things in Alexandria, this building isn’t the most important historical thing in the area. By the 1400s, the famous Pharos Lighthouse had been destroyed by several earthquakes. Qaitbey built the fortress there because he could use the stones from the legendary Pharos Lighthouse, which had stood there before.

The biggest stones of the citadel, which hold up the entrance and gateway, and the red granite columns of the mosque inside its walls were all once part of a much bigger tower.

Since a long time ago, the citadel has not been used for defense. A small naval museum has moved into the fort, but it is still worth your time to look around the inside of the fort and try to picture the huge building that used to be there.

The peninsula leading up to the main gate of the citadel is a popular place for both fishermen and their families and a lot of tourists. People love the sea views, cafes, and ice cream shops that line the road leading up to the stronghold.