Qaitbay Citadel

The Tour In  Qaitbay Citadel

Corridors take you to the soldiers' rooms, where you find their tools as if they were alive, and you are in the heart of history.

Stairs take you to observation rooms and a main tower from which you can watch the ships, a whole day away from their arrival to protect Alexandria from any invasion.

Then there was a giant hall containing a great throne. Here sits Qaitbay. Witness the majestic events that happened with him at the same place. 

You wander among the historical evidence, watching the events unfold before your eyes as if you were in the heart of a time machine, accompanied by the scenery of the Mediterranean Sea, which gently touches history.

Corridors take you to the soldiers' rooms, where you find their tools as if they were alive, and you are in the heart of history. Stairs take you to observation rooms and a main tower from which you can watch the ships, a whole day away from their arrival to protect Alexandria from any invasion. Then a giant hall containing a great throne. Here sits Qaitbay, with events happening with him. Majestic. 

You wander among the historical evidence, watching the events unfold before your eyes as if you were in the heart of a time machine, accompanied by the scenery of the Mediterranean Sea, which gently touches history.

Citadel of Qaitbay Lighthouse

The fortress was built at the same place as the Lighthouse. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was established in 280 BC, during the era of Ptolemy II, by the Greek architect Sostratus and was one hundred and twenty meters long. 

The stones used in the construction of Qaitbay Fortress were from the stones of the destroyed lighthouse, which are very huge stones, and the method of lighting in it was done using a pyramidal or polygonal block of bronze, polished to perfection, with a very smooth surface that worked like a mirror, suspended and below it.

A fire pit, which reflects the light emanating from the fire over a distance of about 20 kilometers in the water, is used to guide ships coming to Alexandria. The thickness of its walls is 4.5 meters.

The lighthouse was destroyed as a result of an earthquake in the year 702 AH during the reign of King Nasser Muhammad bin Qalawun, who ordered its restoration. However, it was later demolished after several years until all its parts were destroyed in the year 1375 AD.

We at Golavita can show you the Citadel of Qaitbay with all the historical evidence. Help you to follow each secret in the heart of history until you arrive at the whole story of each event. Your visit with Golavita to the Qaitbay fortress will surely be unique, as you will live the history, not just see it.