Aqaba Castle, Medieval fortress on the Red Sea coast in Aqaba, Jordan
Aqaba Castle is a medieval fortress on the Red Sea coast in the Jordanian city of Aqaba. The structure has a rectangular form with four corner towers and a fortified main gate, built from local coral stone.
The fortress was built in 1517 under a Mamluk ruler and served for centuries as protection for pilgrims traveling to Mecca. Control of the site changed during the Arab Revolt in the early 20th century, marking a major shift in its role.
The inscriptions on the fortress walls show names of rulers from different periods, telling the story of the cultures that shaped this place. Visitors can see these traces left by successive rulers carved directly into the stone as they walk through.
The fortress is easily accessible on foot from central Aqaba, as it sits right next to the harbor. It is best to visit early in the day to avoid the heat and to explore the interior spaces comfortably.
Excavations within the fortress have uncovered traces of seven different periods of occupation, revealing that the site is far older than the visible stone walls. These buried layers tell the story of peoples who lived here long before the medieval fortress was built.
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