The fort of Qaitbay, with its white walls and classic medieval silhouette, dominates the entrance into the eastern harbour of Alexandria. Its construction dates to the end of the 15th century when the Mameluke sultan El Ashraf Qaitbay erected a first defensive wall and keep upon the rubble that had been the Pharos, the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria. This latter had finally collapsed some 150 years previously as a result of a violent earthquake. The new waterfront fortress completed the city’s defences and provided necessary protection for the citizens from external threats. Nevertheless, the Ottoman Turks, formidable warriors who were gradually seizing control of the Eastern Mediterranean, were to defeat the Mamelukes in 1517 and become the new masters of Egypt.
Since its construction Qaitbay fort has undergone numerous modifications: it has been enlarged, partially destroyed and reconstructed, and now stands as one of the very emblems of the city of Alexandria
This guide not only leads the visitor into the physical presence of the fortress but also through its eventful history.