The Citadel of Qaitbay is a 15th century defence structure in Alexandria. The date of its foundation is considered to be 1477, which is the reign of Sultan Al-Ashraf Saif al-Din. The fortress was one of the most important defensive forts not only in Egypt, but also along the entire Mediterranean coast and played a major role in the city's defence system.
The Citadel is located at the entrance to the Eastern Harbour, at the north-eastern tip of the island of Pharos. It was erected on the site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria. After the Arab conquests and several disasters, the lighthouse was rebuilt but still functional. Restoration began during the reign of Ahmed Ibn Tulun (around 880). In the 11th century, an earthquake struck, destroying the tower to its foundations. From the 11th to the 14th century, a small mosque was built on the remains of the foundation, which was completely destroyed by a natural disaster in the 14th century.
Starting in 1480, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashrafah Qayt Bey began fortifying the harbour to secure it from Turkish raids. He laid out a fortress and built a mosque inside.
The fort consists of three main parts: the colossal walls around the whole complex, the inner wall and the main tower built on the site of the Faros lighthouse. The main tower was erected between 1477 and 1480, its outer walls were built after Sultan Al-Ghuri came to power. It is believed that some of the materials for the fort were taken from the broken lighthouse, particularly the large red granite columns in the northwestern part.
The central entrance, located in the southern wall, was also completed during the time of Sultan Al-Ghuri. The fort gates themselves were built during the British occupation of Egypt, the material used being wood. The arched doorway is made of granite, the main building material of the walls is limestone. Above the entrance there is a chute for a combustible mixture, which was poured on attacking enemies.
The fortress walls cover an area of about two hectares, watchtowers are located along the entire length of the fortress. There are no defensive towers or balconies on the eastern side of the wall, the western wing of the wall has three archery grounds. The north side faces the sea, and there are square loopholes for cannons and catapults.
Between the lower and middle walls there is a courtyard with a garden. The fortress has 34 barracks for the garrison. There are also coastal passages - a series of tunnels under the base of the fort, with exits to different parts of the fort, some used to move cannons and horses.
The complex also includes a prison, mosque, water catchments and technical rooms. There are lifts - holes in the floor running through several floors - for water, food and ammunition. The mosque is richly decorated with geometric patterns and plant motifs, its ceilings are partly made of brick, and its windows are covered with carved screens.
The citadel fulfilled its function until the British bombardment of Alexandria in 1882. The ruins of the fort were forgotten until the 20th century, when the Egyptian Council of Antiquities became interested in them. Under the patronage of this organisation and King Farouk, the fort was restored.
Next to the main gate is the Maritime Museum, where you can see a collection of artefacts from nearby shipwrecks.
