Citadel of Qaitbay, a sea fortress on Alexandria’s old lighthouse site

Citadel of Qaitbay anchors Alexandria’s seafront on the site of the ancient lighthouse, a late fifteenth-century Mamluk fortress shaped by stone, sea and sky.

Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria is a late fifteenth-century Mamluk fortress built by Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qaitbay on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, where thick limestone walls and a square keep rise directly above the Mediterranean.Mamluk sultan al-Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Qaitbay built it between 1477 and 1479, turning the foundations of the famous Pharos into a compact sea-facing stronghold.

A fortress on the ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria

The location of Citadel of Qaitbay is inseparable from its history: the fort stands on Pharos Island, now connected to the mainland at the western tip of Alexandria’s harbour, where the ancient lighthouse once guided ships into the city’s eastern port.The citadel is described as a 15th-century defensive fortress on the Mediterranean sea coast on Pharos Island in Alexandria, and its plan follows Mamluk military practice with a central keep enclosed by curtain walls.

Stone from the collapsed lighthouse was reused in the citadel’s construction, binding medieval fortification to Hellenistic engineering in the fabric of the walls.Accounts of the site note that the fortress was built with ruins of the ancient lighthouse created in the third century AD, and the fort’s position on the same headland keeps the memory of the Pharos alive in the outline of the harbour.

Late Mamluk military architecture in stone and geometry

Citadel of Qaitbay is built predominantly of limestone, with compact geometry and thick outer walls typical of late Mamluk military design.The monument record describes a limestone citadel spanning an area of approximately 17,550 m2, arranged around a roughly square plan with a central tower, corner defences and enclosed courtyards.

The main keep rises to around 17 m (56 ft), giving defenders height over the sea approaches and the long curve of Alexandria’s corniche.Descriptions of the building note a central tower about 17 metres high within the fort, framed by outer walls that define a compact, castle-like silhouette against the water.

From coastal stronghold to landmark of Alexandria

When Citadel of Qaitbay was completed in the late 1470s, it formed part of a wider fortification system for Alexandria during the Mamluk era, guarding Egypt’s Mediterranean coast against naval attack.The fortress is described as one of the most important defensive strongholds along the Mediterranean Sea coast, integrating batteries, towers and watchpoints into a single complex.

Ottoman forces took control of the citadel in the early sixteenth century and continued to use it as a coastal defence base, extending its role beyond the Mamluk period.Narratives of the site report that Ottoman forces captured the fortress in 1517 and used it as a major naval base, leaving layered phases of military occupation visible in masonry, embrasures and surviving towers.

Visiting Citadel of Qaitbay: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Citadel of Qaitbay stands on the former Pharos Island at the western end of Alexandria’s harbour, reached along the city’s coastal corniche by road or local transport.
• Within the fortress, staircases climb between levels and passages run through the thick stone fabric, so a visit involves walking over uneven surfaces and negotiating steps in enclosed spaces.
• The citadel faces the open Mediterranean, and the exposed position on the headland can bring strong sea breezes across the ramparts and open courtyards.
• The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Egyptian pound. Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Citadel of Qaitbay

Where is Citadel of Qaitbay located?

Citadel of Qaitbay stands on the former Pharos Island at the western tip of Alexandria’s harbour on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, now linked to the city by the corniche road.

What can visitors expect inside the fortress?

Visitors encounter thick limestone walls, inner courtyards and a central tower, with staircases, passages and terraces offering views over the harbour and out to the Mediterranean.

What makes Citadel of Qaitbay distinctive among sea fortresses?

The citadel’s position on the foundations of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, combined with late fifteenth-century Mamluk military architecture, gives it a rare blend of Pharaonic-era legacy and medieval coastal defence.