Citadel of Qaitbayقلعة قايتباي

For centuries, this spot was crowned by one of the marvels of the ancient world: the Lighthouse of Alexandria (the Pharos), built around 280 BC and rising perhaps over a hundred metres to guide ships safely into the great harbour. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it stood for some 1,600 years before being toppled by earthquakes. When the citadel was later built here, some of the lighthouse's fallen stone was reused in its walls — so a piece of one of antiquity's greatest structures lives on in the fortress today.

The citadel was built around 1477 by the Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay to defend Alexandria against the rising threat of the Ottoman navy. A robust square fortress with strong walls and round towers, it centres on a sturdy three-storey keep containing a mosque. Well restored, it remains one of the finest and best-preserved fortresses on the Egyptian coast, its sand-coloured stone glowing against the blue of the sea. Exploring its ramparts, chambers, and tower offers a vivid sense of medieval Egypt's maritime defences.

Part of the citadel's charm is its magnificent setting on a spit of land reaching into the sea, with sweeping views along Alexandria's curving Corniche. It is a favourite place for locals and visitors to stroll, fish, and watch the sunset. In the waters nearby lie the submerged ruins of the ancient Pharos and a sunken royal quarter, explored by divers and the subject of underwater archaeology — a reminder that much of ancient Alexandria now rests beneath the waves just offshore.

The citadel sits at the tip of Alexandria's Eastern Harbour and is easily reached along the Corniche. It combines naturally with the city's other great sights — the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa — for a full day exploring Alexandria. Allow an hour or so to explore the fort, and enjoy the sea breeze and views from its walls. Late afternoon, with the light golden on the stone and water, is especially beautiful.

• What it is: a 15th-century Mamluk fortress guarding Alexandria's harbour.
• Arabic name: قلعة قايتباي (Citadel of Qaitbay).
• Built: around 1477 by Sultan Qaitbay, against the Ottoman threat.
• The site: where the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria (the Pharos) once stood.
• Wonder connection: some of the fallen lighthouse's stone was reused in its walls.
• Nearby: submerged ancient ruins explored by divers offshore.
• Tip: combine with the Bibliotheca and the Catacombs; lovely at sunset.

Sources include Egyptian heritage and travel guides. Some dates are approximate.