Qaitbey Citadel

Built in the 14th century by Sultan Qaitbay, this picturesque citadel was once used to defend against the Ottoman Empire and sits on the foundation that was originally the legendary Pharos Lighthouse (the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world)! It served as one of the most important defensive strongholds in Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea coast. Its grandeur caught King Farouk’s eye, which caused the Citadel to get renovated because the last King of Egypt wanted to use it as his own personal rest house. By the time the renovation had been complete, the king was overthrown, and the Republic of Egypt turned it into a small and special naval museum. The museum contains artifacts from the Roman and Napoleonic Sea battles. Historically, as the citadel is truly a sight to behold, the area was used for multiple movies as a set to shoot movies about the Crusades. Today, the surrounding streets are full of fishermen and families, and you can find yourself enjoying the sea views, seafood restaurants, and ice cream shops.