LE 235M to protect Alexandria’s Qaitbay Fort from rising sea

CAIRO – 14 March 2018: A total of LE 235 million ($13.3 million) has been allocated to renovate one of Alexandria’s historical landmarks, Qaitbay Citadel, according to the governor of the Mediterranean city.

Governor Mohamed Sultan said in a youth seminar at Bibliotheca Alexandrina with the slogan “participate, innovate and advance” that the renovation project will kick off in April.

Renovations will mainly focus on the stones on which the fort was built, according to studies issued by the Ministry of Antiquities and the Engineering Center for Archaeology and Environment at Cairo University.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian General Authority for Shores Protection, supervised by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, also conducted a number of studies to establish barriers in order to keep the sea waves away from the stone on which the Fort was based.

Qaitbay Fort is one of the most important attractions of Alexandria. It was built on the remains of the Alexandria Lighthouse, which was one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

Holding Down the Fort

CAIRO – 15 September 2017:Walking down the Alexandria Corniche, you can’t help but gaze over to the historical castle that stood witness to the city’s rich history for over 500 years.

The historical castle can be seen from afar along the Alexandria Corniche. It stands witness to five centuries of the city’s long history. Qaitbay Citadel was built in 1477 by Sultan Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qaitbay to guard against Ottoman invasions.

Since the times of the Mamlukes, the citadel has stood the test of time, rising strong as a bastion protecting the old city. Nearby, exactly 15 meters away, lie the sunken monuments, 2,500 archeological pieces dating back to the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Climate change is putting the heritage site in danger, as rising sea levels caused sea water to sweep beneath the northern part of the citadel, while waves hit the upper northern part. The movement of the sea has pulled sands away from the citadel, which threatens the stability of the building.


Additional reporting by Samar Samir