The Lighthouse of Alexandria on Pharos Island was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world built. It suffered damage through a series of earthquakes during the subsequent centuries and ultimately destroyed in the 1300’s by an earthquake.
In 1477, Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qaitbay ordered a fortress to be built on top of the foundations of the former lighthouse. During the two year construction some of the stone of the lighthouse was recycled and used in the construction of the Citadel.
At the front entrance, you can see some darker colored rock which forms the doorway – these stones were salvaged from the lighthouse. This gives the traveller a chance to touch or even sit on part of the ancient lighthouse (there are two large stones that sit in front of each side of the entrance).
Beyond that opportunity, the citadel itself is an impressive work of history. It has survied through the Ottoman conquest, Napoleon’s campaign, and the Pashas of Egypt and into modern day.
The citadel is perched overlooking the harbor and Burullus Lake which gives excellent views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. You can also look over the portion of the harbor where Cleopatra’s palace is located under the water – submerged by another earthquake in the 300’s and only accessible to scuba diving tourists.
The Citadel of Qaitby is a great stop for any traveller to Alexandria to take in the scope of the city and reflect on all of its history.
