Fort Qait Bey Islamic, 15th century A.D.

On the northern tip of the former island of Pharos, on the spot where the famous lighthouse once stood, stands the mighty fortress of Sultan Qait Bey. After two powerful earthquakes in 1303 and 1326 had finally brought down the lighthouse that dated from antiquity, the remains were used to build this fortress (around 1480). In so strategic a position it could control entry to the great East Harbor, protecting it from any attack. The fortress is in three storeys, and as part of the city’s defenses it consists of a square central structure with four round towers at the corners. The whole is surrounded by a massive stone wall that also has several bastion towers. The modern route to the Fort follows in general the old Heptastadion, the 1300 m long artificial dam which alluvial deposits have widened beyond recognition over the centuries.