Qaitbay's Citadel, A Citadel Echoing the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Citadel of Qait Bey, Qaytbay, Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate, 21131, Egypt

A beautiful castle by the seaside

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Introduction

The Citadel of Qaitbay, also known as the Qaitbay Castle, has a history dating back to the ancient wonder of the world, the "Pharos of Alexandria". In the 3rd century BC, Alexandria became an important hub for maritime trade. However, the treacherous terrain near the harbor often caused accidents for ships navigating at night. To address this issue, Pharaoh Ptolemy I ordered the construction of a giant lighthouse on the eastern end of Pharos Island, reaching a height of 122 meters, with a statue of the sea god Poseidon on the top, making the total height approximately 135 meters. The lighthouse was divided into three levels, with a giant mirror and a huge fire pit in the third level, which reflected sunlight during the day and lit up with fire at night, providing assistance for safe navigation up to 50 miles away. In 639 AD, Arabs entered Egypt, and the lighthouse lost its function. It fell into disrepair and was eventually destroyed by a major earthquake in 1303. In 1480, Sultan Qaitbay used some of the rubble to construct a fortress on the same site as a defense against the Ottomans. In 1882, the fortress suffered severe damage from British military bombardment. After two rounds of restoration, today's Citadel of Qaitbay has become a stronghold, carrying the legacy of the ancient lighthouse.