Qaitbay Citadel to be opened for free Tuesday marking 200th anniversary of deciphering Rosetta Stone

CAIRO - 27 September 2022: Qaitbay Citadel in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria will be opened to visitors free of charge on Tuesday, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of deciphering the Rosetta Stone and the emergence of Egyptology. 

 

Mohamed Metwally, Director General of the Alexandria Antiquities District, announced that this come based on the approval of the Board of Directors of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in its session on 2022. /8/9.

 

Qaitbay Castle is located at the end of Pharos Island in the far west of Alexandria. It was built in the place of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was destroyed in 702 AH following the devastating earthquake that occurred during the reign of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun. year 884 AH.

 

This castle takes the shape of a square, with an area of ​​150 m * 130 m, surrounded by the sea on three sides. The castle has defensive towers on the four sides that rise to the level of the wall, except for the eastern wall, which includes defensive slots for soldiers.

 

The main tower in the inner courtyard takes the form of a large square castle, the length of its sides is 30 meters and its height is 17 meters. On two levels, the first floor is occupied by the castle mosque, which consists of a courtyard, four iwans, and defensive corridors that allow soldiers to pass easily during the operations of defending the castle. This mosque had a minaret, but it collapsed recently.

 

As for the second floor, it contains corridors, halls and internal rooms, and the third floor includes a large room (the seat of Sultan Qaytbay) in which he sat to see the ships on a day’s march from Alexandria covered by a cross vault. Residents in the castle, the Sultan Qansuh Al-Ghouri renewed the castle and increased its garrison, and this castle was neglected during the period of the Ottoman Caliphate of Egypt.