Qaitbay Citadel is one of the most important defensive fortresses on the .

It was built by the Mamluk Sultan Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Qaitbay between (882-884 AH / 1477-1479 AD) on the ruins of the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria on the eastern tip of Pharos Island (currently Anfoushi) to fortify the city of Alexandria and protect it from sea invasions.

The citadel was built of limestone on an area of ​​approximately 1750 m2 surrounded by an outer wall interspersed with defensive towers. While the citadel courtyard is surrounded by an inner wall that includes a group of rooms that served as barracks for soldiers and warehouses for weapons and supplies.

The entrance to the citadel leads to a courtyard that tops its main northwestern side, which is a large square citadel with three floors. While its four corners are occupied by semicircular towers that end at the top with prominent balconies to defend the city. We can also find a cistern next to the tower to supply soldiers and horses with water.

Qaitbay Citadel has received the attention of sultans and rulers throughout the ages, due to its distinguished strategic location. The citadel has witnessed many reinforcement, expansion and restoration works, the last of which was in 2003 AD.

Geographical location of Qaitbay Citadel

Qaitbay Citadel is located in the northern part of Rashid city in Alexandria, at a distance of about seven kilometers. The citadel is considered one of the largest Egyptian citadels, as it is one of the Mamluk era monuments that still exist today. This citadel overlooks the Mediterranean coast, and the northern side of Pharos Island, specifically at the mouth of the eastern port. The importance of Qaitbay Citadel lies in the fact that it was one of the defensive means of the Egyptian coasts, during the Mamluk era and the Ottoman era.

Some facts about Qaitbay Citadel

The facts about Qaitbay Citadel should be known, including the following:
The citadel extends over an area of ​​17,550 square meters.
The reason for building the citadel was to protect Egypt; especially after the direct Ottoman threats to Egypt, which were a threat to the Arab countries, and this prompted the Mamluk Sultan Qansura al-Ghouri to provide the citadel with appropriate weapons and equipment to protect it from dangers.
It is noteworthy that the construction of the citadel began in 882 AH, and was completed in 884 AH, and the construction was during the reign of Sultan Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Qaitbay.

The citadel was built on the borders of the ancient island of Pharos. The length of the citadel reaches 150 meters, and its width is 130 meters.
The external walls surround this citadel, and the walls contain defensive towers, and these towers are located in the corners of the outer wall.
There is a square-shaped tower in the main square of the citadel, and the tower rises 17 meters above ground level, and the length of its base reaches about 30 meters.
The castle consists of two floors:

The first floor: includes the mosque and defensive corridors for the soldiers.

The second floor:
contains rooms and halls for the sultan and leaders, a mill, and a bakery.

History of Qaitbay Citadel

Qaitbay Citadel dates back to the late 15th century. It was built by Sultan Qaitbay on the former site of the Alexandria Lighthouse. The citadel overlooks the eastern port of the city. Qaitbay Citadel contains a room with stone walls, amazing and charming corridors, and a maritime museum. This museum displays a number of artifacts dating back to the Roman and Napoleonic naval battles. In 1882, the citadel was subjected to some vandalism and destruction due to the British occupation of Egypt. The building suffered a number of cracks and fissures. In 1904, the Arab Antiquities Preservation Committee restored and maintained the citadel.