Qaitbay Citadel with a view of the harbour
The Citadel of Qaitbay was built in the 15th century as a defensive fortress located on the Mediterranean coast in Alexandria by Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qait Bya, who decided to fortify the site against attack by the Turks. The citadel stands on the exact spot where the Lighthouse of Alexandria stood, on the Island of Pharos. The fortress has a square plan with several towers and chambers. The first floor houses the mosque, built following the Mamluk architectural style used for the madrassa. The minaret of the mosque collapsed over the centuries.
