Alexandria's Qaitbay Citadel gets visitor centre
A new Visitor Centre has opened in the 15th century Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria.
The centre, which was set up in one of the halls of the citadel's main tower, was built in cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the French Centre for Alexandrian Studies.
Bassem Ibrahim, Director of the General Administration of Tourist, Archaeological Sites, and Museums Services explained that the new centre features nine bilingual information panels in Arabic and English. He pointed out that these are supported by maps and illustrative diagrams that facilitate understanding the historical and structural dynamics of the citadel area. Furthermore, a screen is in place showing a film about the site of Alexandria's famous ancient lighthouse.
According to Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the project to establish the Visitor Centre falls within the framework of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' strategy to enhance visitors' experience of Alexandria as a beacon of history and culture.
The idea is for the Visitor Centre to shed light on Qaitbay Citadel and the area around it, which was a pivotal part of the royal district of ancient Alexandria, Mr Khaled explained. The most prominent historical sites in the vicinity of the Qaitbay Citadel are the ancient lighthouse and the eastern port.
The centre should provide necessary information on several unique archaeological facilities, including the Royal Port, the Timonium Building, Antirhodos Island, the marine docks, and the shipyards, Mr Ibrahim said. He pointed out that the Visitor Centre also shows the development of Alexandria's defensive fortifications, with special focus on the historical role of the Qaitbay Citadel. The fortifications constructed during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha along the northern coast, get their share in the Visitor Centre, Dr Ibrahim said.
Qaitbay Citadel is one of the most important forts on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Mamluk Sultan al-Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Qaitbay built it between 1477AD and 1479AD over the ruins of Alexandria's ancient Lighthouse. It served as Alexandria's defence against naval attacks. Built with limestone and spanning an area of some 17550 sq.m, the Citadel's outer wall was plotted with defence towers surrounding the building.
Watani International
9 June 2025 Comments
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The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the opening of the Qaitbay Citadel Visitor Center in Alexandria, which comes to improve the quality of services provided to visitors to museums and archaeological sites. The center was set up within one of the halls of the main tower of the Qaitbay Citadel, in cooperation with the French Center for Alexandrian Studies, under the direction of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy. The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, explained that this comes as part of the ministry's strategy to improve services at archaeological sites and enhance cultural communication with visitors. It also aims to shed light on the rich history of the archaeological area surrounding Qaitbay Citadel, including prominent historical sites, such as the ancient lighthouse and the eastern port, which was a pivotal part of the royal district of ancient Alexandria. The Director General of the General Administration of Tourist, Archaeological Sites, and Museums Services, Bassem Ibrahim, said that the center provides information on unique archaeological structures, such as the Royal Port, the Timonium Building, Antrodos Island, the marine docks, and the shipyards. The visitor center also explores the development of Alexandria's defensive fortifications, focusing on the historical role of Qaitbay Citadel, along with the fortifications constructed during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha along the northern coast. He added that the center's display features nine bilingual information panels in Arabic and English, supported by maps and illustrative diagrams that facilitate understanding of the historical and architectural sequence of the area. A screen also displays a film about the ancient lighthouse site, along with seating for visitors to rest.
