AQABA FORTRESS

The fort was built on the foundations of an ancient Crusader fortress by Al-Ashraf Qansur al-Ghawri, one of the last Mamluk sultans, in the ^16th century. Originally, it comprised a polygonal tower at each corner, before these were redesigned to be more rounded. The entrance to the fort creates an impression of symmetry, but the gate is not perfectly centered and one of the two towers is wider than the other. The building served as a resting place for pilgrims on their way to Mecca. During the city's decline, the fortress retained its tradition of hospitality, becoming a caravanserai. Then the Ottomans took a renewed interest and restored it. The fort once again became a place of accommodation for pilgrims. During the Great Arab Revolt, the fort became the focus of a military battle. The British bombarded it in 1917, then succeeded in seizing it and taking the town from the Ottomans. The Aqaba Fortress, also known as the Mamluk Castle, is today one of the few remaining vestiges of the old town. The armoured gate at the entrance still bears the Hashemite dynasty's coat of arms, affixed during the First World War by King Faisal, after Lawrence had taken control of the city from the Ottomans. The semi-circular towers also feature inscriptions to the glory of Allah.