Alexandria, Egypt
Building in Alexandria, Egypt
At the eastern tip of the old Pharos island, guarding the mouth of the Eastern Harbour, the Citadel of Qaitbay stands where the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, once rose until earthquakes brought it down in the 14th century. The Mamluk sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay built the fort between 1477 and 1479 to defend the coast, reusing stone from the lighthouse ruins, and Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri later strengthened it. The fort is roughly square, about 150 by 130 metres, with the sea on three sides. An inner wall held barracks and stores, an outer wall carries defensive towers, and in the middle stands the three-storey keep, with a small mosque, halls and passages whose slit windows look out over the water. It stayed in military use until the British fleet bombarded it in 1882, and after restoration became Alexandria's best-known landmark and the finest place to see the city from the sea.
Go late in the day to watch the sunset over the sea from the walls, then walk the corniche back through Bahari and Anfushi, where the popular fish restaurants are. Allow an hour to an hour and a half. Stairs inside the keep are narrow. The wind on the walls is strong in winter, so bring a jacket.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionAlexandria, Egypt
