"Long after its light was extinguished, memories of it glowed in the minds of men". This was how E.M. Forster described the lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In the 15C, Sultan Ashraf Qaitbay decided to build an imposing fortress where it had stood until a century earlier in order to protect the city. The fort is a fine example of Mameluke military architecture. The crenellated walls to the north end of the eastern harbour are a landmark in the city.