The Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria

Today is a holiday here in the UK and while I should be in Sintra, just outside of Lisbon, I am 1,370 North hitting publish in London.   Trips being cancelled is very fun but I bring you another post from my Egypt adventure to satiate any wanderlust.  It is a very well known fact that I love castles but what you may not know is I am a big fan of all historical structures like palaces and forts. Thus when we were in Egypt and we had the chance to customise our intermarry for our visit to Alexandria I made sure their famous fort was on our list.   It is formally called the Citadel of Qaitbay and while I did not know a lot about it before my visit, by the time I left I was very impressed.

Quite possibly because it was the original location of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, or because of it’s gorgeous position on the Mediterranean Sea.  After taking a look at the photos, you can tell me which reason you would choose.  The lighthouse has been gone since the 8th century  but this fort has stood on this location 1477 AD.   For a fort, the Citadel of Qaitbay is perfectly situated to Eastern side of the mouth of the harbour, making a great lookout point.   

After taking in the fort from the outside we headed inside. As the fort has been used as both a lookout and defensive structure it makes sense that it has been attacked numerous times, most recently when it was bombed by the British fleet, after which it feel in disrepair.  But as you can see from the photos below the Citadel of Qaitbay was restored in the mid 80’s.  The restoration fixed the structure but the inside you can see this served a purpose and it was not decorative.  My favourite aspect was the gorgeous views of the city and the sea from the walls on a crystal clear day. Take a look at the plain interior and the gorgeous views: 

Would you want to visit the Citadel of Qaitbay ?