Qaitbay Citadel

The Qaitbay Citadel is a 15th-century military fortress and one of the most famous ancient monuments in Alexandria. It is located on Pharos Island's eastern side. It now houses a beautiful mosque, a curricular room with the king’s throne, and a small naval museum. The Naval museum displays statues, models, paintings, and artefacts ranging from the time of Egyptian Pharaohs to the Roman and Napoleonic sea battles.

Sultan Qaitbey erected the Qaitbay Citadel, a 15th-century stronghold, between 1477 and 1479 AD to protect Alexandria from Ottoman Empire assaults. The Citadel was erected on the site of what was known as the iconic Lighthouse of Alexandria. The lighthouse built during the reign of Ptolemy II was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Due to frequent earthquake damage, it had been reduced to ruins by the 14th century. Its architecture is distinctively square, and the Mediterranean Sea encircles it on three sides.