Lighthouses of Spain: Galicia

Galicia is an autonomous region in the northwestern corner of Spain, including the three coastal provinces of Lugo, La Coruña, and Pontevedra plus the inland province of Orense. Galicians speak a distinctive language, called Galego (or Gallego), which is related to Portuguese. The Galician coastline is rugged and scenic, but very dangerous to navigation; it is often called the "Coast of Death" (Costa da Morte in Galego). Most of the harbors are partly-sheltered bays called rías, a word similar to "roads" as it is used in nautical English. There are also several major protected harbors, including Ferrol and La Coruña in La Coruña province and Vigo in Pontevedra province.

The word for a lighthouse is faro in Spanish (farol in Galego), but its use is generally restricted to the larger coastal light stations. Smaller lighthouses are called balizas (beacons). The navigational lights in Spain are regulated at the national level by the Comisíon de Faros, but they are operated and maintained by the regional port authorities, one or more in each province.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. ES numbers are from the Spanish national list of lights, Libro de Faros. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.

General Sources
Libro de Faros
A comprehensive web site for Spanish lighthouses, maintained by Agustín Solabre Suárez.
Online List of Lights - Spain
A huge collection of photos posted by Alexander Trabas.
Lighthouses in Spain
Excellent aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Ayudas a la Navegación
Information posted by the Autoridad Portuaria de Ferrol - San Cibrao; unfortunately there are no photos.
La Web de un Farero
A comprehensive web site on the lighthouses of Lugo and the Ferrol area.
Faros de Galicia
Posted by the education ministry of La Coruña, this site has small photos, descriptions, and historical information on 27 Galician lighthouses.
Faros y Balizas
Historical information and small photos posted by the Porto de Vilagarcía.
Faros y Balizas
Information, but no photos, posted by the Puerto de Marín.
Leuchttürme Spaniens auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.
 

 


Faro de Cabo Finisterre (Fisterra)
photo by Autoridad Portuaria de A Coruña


Faros de Cabo Touriñán, June 2007
Creative Commons photo by Arturo Nikolai

Lugo Lighthouses
Note: Lighthouses in Lugo and the northern part of La Coruña are maintained by the Autoridad Portuaria de Ferrol - San Cibrao.
* Isla Pancha (Ribadeo) (1)
1860. Inactive since 1983. 9 m (30 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery centered on the roof of a square 1-story keeper's house. Building painted white with blue trim; lantern dome is black. José Ignacio López has a photo, Solabre also has a nice photo by Enrique Gil, and in Trabas's photo we see that a Fresnel lens is still mounted in this tower. After its replacement in 1983, the building served as a generator house. Isla Pancha is a small, rocky island at the northeastern entrance to the harbor of Ribadeo. A bridge connects the island to the mainland, as seen in Fran García's photo. Located about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Ribadeo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-325.
* Isla Pancha (Ribadeo) (2)
1983 (station established 1860). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); four white flashes, in a 3+1 pattern, every 20 s. 13 m (43 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Fog siren (Morse code "R": short-long-short, every 30 s). Trabas has a good photo, and P. Christen has a closeup. Located adjacent to the 1860 lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-155; ES-02725; Admiralty D1660; NGA 2340.
Piedra de Burela
Date unknown (1950s or 1960s). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); three quick white flashes every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) cylindrical tower with gallery and a modern lantern structure. Tower painted black with a yellow horizontal band below the gallery. Solabre has a photo, and Trabas has a good closeup. Located on a rocky ledge about 800 m (1/2 mi) off the fishing port of Burela. Accessible only by boat, but there should be distant views from the shore. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SPA-027; ES-02830; Admiralty D1673; NGA 2368.
* San Cibrao (San Ciprián, Punta Atalaya) (1)
1864. Inactive since 1979. 9 m (30 ft) stone tower with lantern and gallery attached to the front of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. Tower is unpainted; lantern is silvery gray; house painted white with unpainted stone trim. A photo is at right, Solabre also has a photo by Enrique Gil, and Trabas has a good photo of both lighthouses. The tower was altered when the present lantern was installed in 1927. Located on a headland that provides natural shelter for the port of San Cibrao (San Ciprián); Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-326.
* San Cibrao (San Ciprián, Punta Atalaya) (2)
1979 (station established 1860). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); five white flashes every 20 s. 14 m (46 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a good photo of both lighthouses. Located adjacent to the 1860 lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-192; ES-02870; Admiralty D1676; NGA 2376.

Faros de San Cibrao, August 2007
Creative Commons photo by Jorge Louzao Peñalva

Northern Coruña Lighthouses
Note: Lighthouses in Lugo and the northern part of La Coruña are maintained by the Autoridad Portuaria de Ferrol - San Cibrao.
Punta Roncadoira
1974. Active; focal plane 94 m (308 ft); white flash every 7.5 s. 14 m (46 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted white. Trabas has a closeup, Solabre has a photo by Enrique Gil, and Javier Churruca has another good photo. Roncadoira is a prominent cape, and it is surprising there was no light here long before 1974. Located on a steep headland about 7 km (4.5 mi) north of Xove. Site status unknown; there may be no road access to this site. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-257; ES-02990; Admiralty D1678.8; NGA 2410.
Isla Coelleiria (Isla Conejera)
1893. Active; focal plane 89 m (292 ft); four white flashes every 24 s. 7 m (23 ft) tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Tower is gray stone; house painted white. Solabre also has a distant photo; Ted Sarah has a closeup photo. The island is a huge wedge of stone a short distance off the coast 5 km (3 mi) northeast of O Vicedo. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SPA-028; ES-03060; Admiralty D1684; NGA 2432.
* Punta del Castro
Date unknown (late 1930s or 1940s). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 9 m (30 ft) unpainted concrete tower with gallery but no lantern. Trabas has a closeup photo. Note that there is another Punta del Castro light at O Priegal (see below). Located on the east side of the entrance to the Ría del Barquiero at O Vicedo. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1685; NGA 2440.
* Punta de la Barra
Date unknown (late 1930s or 1940s). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 9 m (30 ft) unpainted concrete tower with gallery but no lantern. Trabas has a closeup photo. Located on the west side of the entrance to the Ría del Barquiero about 1.4 km (0.9 mi) northeast of the Porto de Barqueiro waterfront. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1685.2; NGA 2436.
* Estaca de Bares
1850 (Félix Uhagón). Active; focal plane 101 m (331 ft); two white flashes every 7.5 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal stone tower with a birdcage-style lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story keeper's house complex. The tower is unpainted gray stone; the watch room and keeper's house are painted white with unpainted stone trim. Fog siren (Morse code "B": one long and three shorts, every 60 s). A fine closeup is available, Trabas also has a great closeup photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This lighthouse stands on the northernmost point of Spain, generally considered to be the boundary between the open Atlantic and the Mare Cantábrico (Bay of Biscay). Together with the light on Cabo Finisterre, it is one of the two lighthouses ordered in 1846 to light the northwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. Located at the tip of a peninsula 5 km (3 mi) long; accessible by road from Porto de Barqueiro at the base of the peninsula. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-230; ES-03100; Admiralty D1686; NGA 2444.
* Cabo Ortegal
1984. Active; focal plane 124 m (407 ft); white light, 6 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted white with a red horizontal band below the lower gallery. Bernt Rostad's photo is at right, Trabas has a good photo, Solabre has a closeup photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Cabo Ortegal is 12 km (7.5 mi) west and a little south of Punta de la Estaca de Bares; it is the point where the Spanish coastline changes direction from east-west to northeast-southwest. A light was initially planned here in 1846, but mariners preferred Estaca de Bares. In 1908 and again in 1930 there were proposals for a light at Ortegal, but Punta Candelaria was chosen instead. Located atop a very steep headland at the tip of the cape, about 5 km (3 mi) north of Cariño. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-036; ES-03160; Admiralty D1686.3; NGA 2450.
* Punta Candieira (Candelaria)
1954. Active; focal plane 89 m (292 ft); four white flashes in a 3+1 pattern every 24 s. 9 m (30 ft) cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one corner of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with red trim. Trabas has a closeup photo, and a fine 2007 closeup shows the lighthouse freshly painted. This lighthouse was authorized in 1929 and completed in 1934, but it was not placed in service for 20 years. One writer attributes this delay to olvido burocrático (bureaucratic forgetfulness), but the Spanish Civil War and World War II probably played a role. In Trabas's photo it is clear the keeper's house is occupied. Located on a very steep point about 8 km (5 mi) north of Cedeira by a challenging road; 4WD recommended. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-202; ES-03170; Admiralty D1687; NGA 2452.
Faro de Cabo Ortegal
Faro de Cabo Ortegal, July 2007
Creative Commons photo by Bernt Rostad
Punta Promontorio (Cedeira)
Date unknown (station established 1862). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white light occulting four times every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small 1-story keeper's cottage. Lighthouse painted white. Trabas has a closeup photo, another good photo is available., and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a promontory in the middle of the Ría de Cedeira, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southwest of the town. Site status unknown; there doesn't seem to be a good land access to this site. ARLHS SPA-327; ES-03192; Admiralty D1688; NGA 2456.
* Punta Frouxeira
1994. Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); five white flashes every 15 s. 30 m (98 ft) square cylindrical skeletal concrete tower with enclosed watch room and a small lantern. Tower is unpainted concrete; lantern is green. A photo appears at right, Trabas has a great photo, and Lois Fernandez has a 2009 photo. Close to beach resorts, this striking modern lighthouse is often photographed. Located on a headland about 5 km (3 mi) west of Valdoviño. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-101; ES-03210; Admiralty D1690; NGA 2458.
* Cabo Prior
1853. Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); three white flashes in a 1+2 pattern every 15 s. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, embedded in the front of a U-shaped 1-story masonry keeper's house. The tower is unpainted stone; the house and watch room are painted beige with unpainted stone trim; the lantern dome is painted black. Trabas has a closeup photo, a 2008 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. A walkway leads steeply down from the lighthouse to a narrow point of land overlooking the sea. Cabo Prior is the most prominent headland between Capes Finisterre and Ortegal, and the historic light here is an important landfall light for the ports of Ferrol and A Coruña. The lighthouse is at the top of a vertical cliff; a photo (halfway down the page) shows the view from the sea. Located 14 km (9 mi) northwest of Ferrol and 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Pedreira. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-038; ES-03220; Admiralty D1692; NGA 2460.
* Punta del Castro
Date unknown. Active; focal plane and characteristics unknown. 7 m (23 ft) trapezoidal cylindrical stone tower with a slanted roof carrying solar panels. The tower is unpainted. Trabas has a closeup photo. Note that there is another Punta del Castro light near Barqueiro (see above). Located on a promontory at O Priegal. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1693; not listed by NGA.

Ría de Ferrol Lighthouses
Note: these lighthouses are maintained by the Autoridad Portuaria de Ferrol - San Cibrao.
* Cabo Prioriño Chico
1854. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); white flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) stone tower with lantern and gallery, embedded in the front of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. Tower is unpainted stone; house and watch room painted white with unpainted stone trim; lantern dome painted white. Trabas has a fine closeup photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse stands at the end of a peninsula marking the entrance to the Ría de Ferrol and the approach to the harbor of Ferrol. The building was heavily damaged by vandals in 1990 and was out of service for several months; the optical equipment had to be replaced. It was replaced again in 1995, when the light was converted from gas to electric power and an acrylic Fresnel lens was installed. The light station commands a spectacular view of the Atlantic, the Ría de Ferrol to the northeast, and the Ría de Batanzos to the southeast. Located 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Ferrol. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-039; ES-03240; Admiralty D1694; NGA 2464.

Faro de Punta Frouxeira, December 2006
Creative Commons photo by Xoán Porto
* Ferrol Arsenal
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); three red flashes, in a 2+1 pattern, every 12 s. 7 m (23 ft) post light mounted atop a 1-story watchroom on the wall of a late medieval fort. Watchroom painted white; the post is painted red. Trabas has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. The historic Arsenal Militar de Ferrol is now the home of a naval museum. Located on the southernmost point of a large quay on the west side of the inner harbor of Ferrol. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Museo Naval de El Ferrol. Admiralty D1698.9; NGA 2516.
Castillo de la Palma
1862. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two long white flashes and one quick flash every 7 s. 7 m (23 ft) stone tower attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Tower unpainted; house painted white with a red roof. Trabas has a closeup photo, another closeup is available, there is also a distant photo of the Castillo in which the lighthouse appears near the left edge, and Google has a good satellite view. The Castillo de la Palma is one of several fortresses built to defend the port and naval base of Ferrol; the original fort was built in 1597, but the present structure dates from the late 1860s. The lighthouse is located on a promontory a short distance upstream (east) of the fort, on the south side of the Ría de Ferrol, about 1.5 km (1 mi) northwest of El Baño. Site status unknown. ARLHS SPA-061; ES-3300; Admiralty D1697; NGA 2484.
* San Martín Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; white light occulting once every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower. The tower is unpainted but the front face is covered with white tile. The light is shown through a small square opening near the top of the tower. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located beside the coastal road on the south side of the Ría de Ferrol 700 m (0.44 mi) east of the front light. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1696.1; NGA 2480.
* San Martín Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower. The tower is unpainted but the front face is covered with white tile. The light is shown through a small square opening near the top of the tower. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the south side of the Ría de Ferrol about 3 km (2 mi) west of El Baño. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1696; NGA 2476.

Ría de la Coruña Lighthouses
Note: These lighthouses in the harbor of La Coruña are maintained by the Autoridad Portuaria de A Coruña. (La Coruña is spelled A Coruña in Galego.)
* Punta Mera Anterior
1918. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); white or red light, depending on direction, occulting once every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo is at right, Lighthouse Explorer has a good closeup photo by José Ramón Matos Prego, a closeup and another good photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. J. Trujillo has an interesting night photo of this lighthouse facing the Torre de Hercules (see below) across the roads. The range guides ships on the initial approach to La Coruña. Located on a headland at the eastern side of the entrance to the Ría de la Coruña, 1.5 km (1 mi) west of Mera. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-243; ES-03550; Admiralty D1706; NGA 2552.
* Punta Mera Posterior
1918. Active; focal plane 81 m (266 ft); white flash every 4 s. 14 m (46 ft) octagonal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Trabas has a good photo, Solabre has a photo, the tourist agency Turgalicia also has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the Rúa Emilio Ferreiro, 300 m (985 ft) east southeast of the front light. Site probably open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-295; ES-03551; Admiralty D1708; NGA 2556.
Punta Fieiteira Anterior (Faro de Santa Cristina)
1963(?). Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); white, red, or green light depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off. 10 m (33 ft) square rubblestone tower. The tower is unpainted, but the entire front face is covered by a daymark painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a closeup photo, Javier Branas has a view from below the tower, and Google has a satellite view. Ships entering La Coruña follow the Punta Mera range to the middle of the entrance of the Ría de la Coruña and then turn 74° to the right onto the Punta Fieiteira Range. Located on a headland in Perillo, at the southern end of the Ría de la Coruña. Site status unknown. ARLHS SPA-292; ES-03560; Admiralty D1710; NGA 2560.
* Punta Fieiteira Posterior
1963(?). Active; focal plane 54 m (177 ft); red light occulting once every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) square rubblestone tower, attached to a 1-story equipment room. The tower is unpainted, but the entire front face is covered by a daymark painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a closeup photo, a view from the rear is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located in Perillo on the west side of the Rúa Miradoiro. Site probably open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-293; ES-03561; Admiralty D1710.1; NGA 2564.
Faro de Punta Mera
Faro de Punta Mera Anterior, October 2008
(Torre de Hercules in the distance)
anonymous Creative Commons photo
* Oza
1917. Inactive since 1963. 7 m (23 ft) octagonal stone tower centered on the flat roof of a 1-story keeper's cottage. House painted white; a metal enclosure protects the lantern. R.F. Rumbao has a photo, a second photo is available, there is a closeup of the lantern, and Google has a satellite view. This was formerly the front light of a range guiding ships into the harbor of La Coruña; it was abandoned when development of the port required a different line of approach, presumably the Punta Fieiteira Range. The port authority secured the building in 1997. There have been various proposals to restore it, none accepted so far. Located south of the port area off the Avenida del Pasaje. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-328.
* Castillo de San Antón
1872. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft) two green flashes every 7 s. 6 m (20 ft) masonry tower with lantern. Tower is unpainted stone; lantern is dark green metallic. Trabas has a good photo, Solabre also has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. The Castillo de San Antón is built on a small island blocking access to the inner harbor of La Coruña. Construction began in 1587, and the unfinished fortress saw action against Sir Frances Drake's raid in 1589. Used for much of the 20th century as a prison, the fortress was converted to an archeological and historical museum in 1964. The lighthouse is located near the eastern end of the fortress, which is now joined to the city by a causeway promenade. Site and fortress open daily, tower closed. Site manager: Museo Arqueoloxía e Histórico Castelo de San Antón. ARLHS SPA-062; ES-03600; Admiralty D1716; NGA 2572.
**** Torre de Hercules
Early 2nd century AD (extensively reconstructed in the late 1700s). Active; focal plane 106 m (348 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 49 m (161 ft) square cylindrical stone tower, incorporating keeper's quarters, surmounted by an octagonal stone watchroom, lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted dark gray stone; lantern is black. Many photos are available, including Bernt Rostad's photo at right, another great photo posted by Trabas, and aerial photos by Marinas.com; in all the photos notice the internal spiral structure of the building. Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This is the world's oldest active lighthouse, and also one of its most famous and most historic. The original construction date of the lighthouse is not known, but an inscription found near the original foundation mentions an architect known to have been active in Spain during the rule of the Emporer Trajan (98-117 AD). At that time, La Coruña was the Roman city of Brigantium. The lighthouse was abandoned during the Dark Ages after the fall of Rome, but it was put back in service by the 13th century, when La Coruña became an important port. By the 17th century, however, the lighthouse was a quaint ruin, and efforts were made to shore it up. Complete restoration had to wait until 1785, when Carlos III ordered a reconstruction. What was left of the Roman structure was patched up and encased in new granite masonry, and the tower was extended in height with an octagonal second stage and the octagonal watch room. Today the lighthouse is the symbol of La Coruña and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Galicia. It is called the Tower of Hercules because of an old legend that Hercules himself built it. In June 2009, the tower was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Parque de la Torre at the northern end of the peninsula on whch La Coruña is built, nearly surrounded by water and with a sweeping view of the open Atlantic. Site and tower open daily. Site manager: Concello de A Coruña. ARLHS SPA-276; ES-03530; Admiralty D1704; NGA 2548.

Torre de Hercules, July 2007
Creative Commons photo by Bernt Rostad

Cape Finisterre Area Lighthouses
Note: These lighthouses in the vicinity of Cabo Finisterre are maintained by the Autoridad Portuaria de A Coruña. (La Coruña is spelled A Coruña in Galego.)
Islas Sisargas (1)
1853 (raised in height in 1915). Active; focal plane 110 m (361 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal granite tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a large rectangular keeper's house complex. 1° Fresnel lens. Tower is unpainted stone; lantern dome is grayish white; house painted white with a red roof. Fog siren (three 3 s blasts every 30 s). There are said to be ruins of a temporary lighthouse, used from 1911 and 1915, near the present light. Juan Rodriguez Silvar has a good photo, another closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Near the lighthouse are the ruins of the hermitage of Santa Mariña, which was shelled by Francis Drake in 1589. The Islas Sisargas are rocky islands off Cabo de San Adrián, a prominent and dangerous cape about 35 km (22 mi) west of La Coruña. The islands are a protected wildlife refuge. Located on Sisarga Grande, largest of the islands, about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Malpica de Bergantiños. Accessible only by boat, but there is a good view from the point of Cabo de San Adrián. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SPA-162; ES-03730; Admiralty D1728; NGA 2612.
* Punta Nariga
1997 (César Portela). Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); four white flashes in a 3+1 pattern every 20 s. 39 m (128 ft) cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a triangular equipment room and mounted on a rhomboidal foundation designed to resemble the prow of a ship. Lighthouse is unpainted white concrete block. Trabas has a closeup photo, Óscar Villán has another good photo, and Google has a satellite view. This modern lighthouse also carries sculptures by the Galician sculptor Manolo Coia. Located on a rocky headland about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Mens. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-072; ES-03735; Admiralty D1729; NGA 2613.
Faro de Punta Nariga
Faro de Punta Nariga, October 2008
anonymous Creative Commons photo
* Punta de Roncudo
About 1920. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) cylindrical brick tower with gallery, painted white. Trabas has a good photo, Solabre has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse marks the end of a westward-pointing promontory and the north entrance to the Ría de Corme y Lage. Located at the end of the AC 424 highway about 6 km (3.5 mi) west of Corme Puerto. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-228; ES-03750; Admiralty D1730; NGA 2616.
* Punta Laxe (Punta Lage)
About 1920. Active; focal plane 66 m (217 ft); five white flashes every 20 s. 11 m (36 ft) cylindrical brick tower with gallery, painted white. Trabas has a good photo, Solabre also has a photo, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. This lighthouse is a twin of the Punta de Roncudo lighthouse; it marks the south entrance to the Ría de Corme y Lage. Located on a north-pointing headland at the end of the Camiño Cemiterio about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of Laxe (Lage). Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-238; ES-03760; Admiralty D1732; NGA 2628.
* Cabo Villano (Vilán) (2)
1896 (station established 1854). Active; focal plane 104 m (341 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 25 m (82 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery; 1° Fresnel lens. The lighthouse is unpainted yellow-brown stone; lantern is all glass including the dome. Fog siren (Morse code "V": three short blasts followed by one long blast, every 60 s). 2-story keeper's house complex nearby. A photo is at right, Trabas has an excellent photo, Lighthouse Explorer has a good photo by José Ramón Matos Prego, and Google has a satellite view. This is the northernmost of several historic first-order lighthouses that light the way around Cabo Finisterre, the northwestern corner of Spain. The light has a range of 45 km (28 mi). Note: the lighthouse at Gorlíz, Vizcaya, is located on another Cabo Villano. Located atop a steep promontory at the point of the cape, about 6 km (3.5 mi) northwest of Camariñas on the AC 432 highway. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-056; ES-03800; Admiralty D1736; NGA 2632.
* Cabo Villano (Vilán) (1)
1854 (Francisco Lizárraga and Adolfo Pequeño). Inactive since 1896. Ruined 7 m (23 ft) cylindrical stone tower atop an octagonal stone base. This first Cabo Villano light had a focal plane of 74 m (243 ft), but it had to be replaced because its light was obscured for ships approaching from the north. Located about 1.5 km (1 mi) south of the modern light. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-329.
* Punta de la Barca (Muxía)
About 1926. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white light occulting once every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) unpainted concrete tower with double gallery. Trabas has a good closeup photo, Antonio Loeches also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This light marks the southern entrance to the Ría de Camariñas. Located on a sharp cape at the end of the Calle de la Virxe de la Barca on the north side of Muxía. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-210; ES-03810; Admiralty D1737; NGA 2656.
* Cabo Toriñana (Cabo Touriñán) (1)
1898. Inactive since 1981. 8 m (26 ft) tower with lantern and gallery centered on the roof of a square 1-story keeper's house. Building painted with with unpainted stone trim; roof is gray. Arturo Nikolai's photo appears at the top of this page, Fran García has excellent closeup photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse stands on the westernmost point of Spain at 9°17.9' W, extending about 2.1 km (1.33 mi) farther west than Cabo Finisterre. Located on the point of the cape about 3 km (2 mi) northwest of Toriñana (Touriñán). Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-330.
* Cabo Toriñana (Cabo Touriñán) (2)
1981 (station established 1898). Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); three white flashes in a 2+1 pattern every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted white. A photo appears at the top of this page, Trabas has a closeup photo, and Selva de Esmelle has a good photo. This is one of a series of modern lighthouses of a standard design built throughout Galicia beginning in the early 1970s. Located adjacent to the original lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-049; ES-03880; Admiralty D1740; NGA 2660.

Faro de Cabo Villano, October 2003
anonymous Creative Commons photo
* Cabo Finisterre (Cabo Fisterra)
1853. Active; focal plane 143 m (469 ft); white flash every 5 s. 17 m (56 ft) octagonal cylindrical granite tower with lantern and gallery attached to the front of a 2-1/2 story keeper's house. Tower unpainted; lantern is silvery metallic; house painted white with unpainted stone trim. Fog siren (two blasts every 60 s). The 2-story fog signal building is operated as the Hotel O Semáforo. A photo appears at the top of this page, Fran García has good photos, Joe di Castro has additional photos, a closeup is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. One of Spain's most famous lighthouses, standing at the end of a narrow, south-pointing promontory with a spectacular view of the Atlantic. Although Cabo Toriñana extends a little farther west, this is the point northward-bound ships must clear to round the northwestern corner of Spain. Located at the end of the AC-445 highway about 3 km (2 mi) south of Fisterra. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-026; ES-03900; Admiralty D1742; NGA 2664.
* Cabo Cée
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); five white flashes every 13 s. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cylindrical granite tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story keeper's cottage. The lantern has been replaced by a modern solar-powered lamp. Tower unpainted; house painted white with unpainted stone trim. Trabas has a closeup photo showing the side of the house covered by graffiti. Since it was taken, the little lighthouse has been repainted and restored, and the Concello de Corcubión (regional council) has posted a photo. Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the peninsula marking the west entrance to the Ría de Corcubión, about 8 km (5 mi) south of Cée. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-011; ES-03930; Admiralty D1760; NGA 2668.
Carrumeiro Chico
1917. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 8 m (26 ft) round solid stone tower with a lantern structure and gallery. Tower painted black with a red horizontal band. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal in the entrance to Cabo Cée harbor, about 1.1 km (0.7 mi) southeast of the Cabo Cée lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-025; Admiralty D1758; NGA 2676.
Islote Lobeira Grande
1909. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house. The building is unpainted; lantern painted white. Trabas has a long-range photo, a view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Another photo is available (3/4 of the way down the page), and the photographer says the keeper's house is ruined inside. Located on a small, rocky island about 4 km (2.5 mi) due south of Cabo Cée. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SPA-168; ES-03920; Admiralty D1756; NGA 2680.

Southern Coruña and Ría de Arousa Lighthouses
Note: Lighthouses in the southernmost part of La Coruña are operated by the Porto de Vilagarcía, although that seaport is actually located in Pontevedra province. All the lighthouses of this group are in La Coruña province except Punta Caballo, which is in Pontevedra.
* Punta Ínsua (Lariño)
1921 (Salvador López Miño). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white or red depending on direction. 14 m (46 ft) octagonal cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the rear of a 1-story keeper's house. Tower unpainted; lantern is silvery metallic; house painted white with unpainted stone trim and a red roof. A photo is at right, Trabas has an excellent photo, and Google has a satellite view. Alain Guyomard and Robert Carceller have also posted a photo. This lighthouse was completed in 1913, but it was not activated until after the end of World War I. Its light filled in a dark zone between Capes Corrubedo and Finisterre. Located on a headland at Lariño. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-235; ES-03980; Admiralty D1782; NGA 2684.
* Monte Louro (Punta Queixal)
1862. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); three white flashes in a 2+1 pattern every 12 s. 7 m (23 ft) hexagonal granite tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a small 1-story keeper's house. Tower unpainted; lantern dome painted white; house painted white with unpainted stone trim and a red roof. Trabas has a great photo, another good photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse stands at the end of a south-pointing peninsula that shelters the northern entrance to the Ría de Muros e Noia. Located about 3 km (2 mi) south of Louro. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-182; ES-03990; Admiralty D1784; NGA 2688.

Faro de Punta Ínsua, May 2004
anonymous Creative Commons photo
* Cabo Rebordiño
1909 (Salvador López Miño). Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two red flashes every 7 s. 8 m (26 ft) cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house. Tower painted white; lantern dome is silvery metallic; house painted white with unpainted stone trim and a red roof. Trabas has an excellent photo, José Ignacio López has another good photo, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. This is a typical tourelle, almost certainly prefabricated in France. An unusual feature of ths lighthouse is a bridge connecting the gallery to the flat roof of the keeper's house. Located on an east-pointing promontory, beside the AC-550 highway about 1 km (0.6 mi) southeast of Muros, marking the entrance to the harbor of that town. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-040; ES-04000; Admiralty D1786; NGA 2692.
* Corrubedo
1854. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); five white flashes in a 3+2 pattern every 20 s; red flashes are shown in a sector to the south. 14 m (46 ft) granite tower with lantern and gallery, mounted atop a semicircular 1-story masonry keeper's house. A large Fresnel lens is in use. Tower unpainted; lantern is metallic gray; house painted white. Fog siren (three 5 s blasts every 60 s). Trabas has a great closeup, Solabre has a nice photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Cabo Corrubedo is the most dangerous Spanish cape south of Finisterre, since it projects far into the sea and the ridge continues underwater as a series of shoals. The unusual semicircular design of the keeper's house was meant to minimize wind resistance. Located on the point of the cape, at the end of the AC-303 highway, about 1.5 km (1 mi) due west of the town of Corrubedo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-012; ES-04100; Admiralty D1794; NGA 2716.
Isla de Sálvora (2)
1921 (station established 1852). Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); four white flashes in a 3+1 pattern every 20 s; the fourth flash is omitted in a sector to the northwest. 16 m (52 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a U-shaped 1-story keeper's house. Tower painted white with one narrow horizontal red band; lantern dome is gray metallic; house painted white. Alain Guyomard and Robert Carceller have a good closeup photo, Fran García has three photos taken from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. Sálvora is a rocky island, about 2 km (1.2 mi) long, in the center of the entrance to the Ría de Arousa, which leads to the port of Vilagarcía. In 2002, the island was included with several others in a new national park. Located at the southern point of the island. Accessible only by boat; tours of the island can be arranged from Ribeira. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Parque Natural de las Islas Atlánticas. ARLHS SPA-157; ES-04120; Admiralty D1796; NGA 2724.

Moonrise, Faro de Corrubedo, August 2007
anonymous Creative Commons photo
Isla Rúa
1869. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); three white flashes in a 2+1 pattern every 21 s; red flashes are shown in a sector to the south and southeast. 14 m (46 ft) cylindrical granite tower with lantern and gallery, embedded in one end of a 1-story keeper's house. The buildings are unpainted; lantern dome is gray metallic. Trabas has a long-range photo, another photo is available (third row of photos), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small rocky island in the Ría de Arousa about 5 km (3 mi) east of Ribeira. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SPA-156; ES-04160; Admiralty D1818; NGA 2756.
* Punta Cabalo (Illa de Arousa)
1853. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); four white flashes every 13 s. 5 m (16 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a square 1-story keeper's house; modern 500 mm lens. Tower unpainted; lantern is metallic gray; house painted white with a red tile roof. Trabas has an excellent photo, Solabre also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The Isla de Arosa, or Illa de Arousa in Galego, is a substantial island, about 7 km (4 mi) long, on the eastern side of the Ría de Arousa. The island is accessible by a bridge on the PO-307 highway from Vilanova de Arousa. The lighthouse is on the rocky northwestern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-222; ES-04260; Admiralty D1826; NGA 2768.
Bajo Pombeiriño
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two green flashes every 12 s. 14 m (46 ft) stone tower with gallery, painted white with a green band around the top. There appears to be a watch room space below the gallery. Trabas has an excellent photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south side of the entrance to the Ría de Arousa, about 1 km (0.6 mi) off the Barrio Carreiro northwest of Piedras Negras. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-281; Admiralty D1800; NGA 2740.

Ría de Pontevedra Lighthouses
Note: These three lighthouses in Pontevedra province are operated by the Puerto de Marín.
** Isla de Ons (2)
1926 (station established 1865). Active; focal plane 127 m (417 ft); four white flashes every 24 s. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and double gallery, attached to the rear of a U-shaped 1-story keeper's house. 1° Fresnel lens in use. Buildings painted white with unpainted stone trim; the trim on the tower gives the impression of gray vertical stripes. Lantern dome is gray metallic; roof of the house is red. Marcos González's photo is at right, José Ignacio López has a fine photo, a good closeup is available, and Google has a satellite view. The current lighthouse is built on the foundation of the original. The Isla de Ons is the largest island of Spain's Atlantic coast, about 7 km (4 mi) long from north to south and located about 8 km (5 mi) west of the entrance to the Ría de Marín. The island is accessible, at least in the summer, by passenger ferry from Sanxenxo. In 2002, the island was included with several others in a new national park. The lighthouse is located at the center of the island, which is also the highest point. Site open, tower said to be open by arrangement with the resident caretaker. Site manager: Parque Natural de las Islas Atlánticas. ARLHS SPA-154; ES-04520; Admiralty D1846; NGA 2832.
Isla Tambo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white light occulting three times every 8 s. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) narrow stone tower mounted on a round 1-story stone equipment room. There is a small lantern and gallery accessed by an external stairway that spirals around the tower. Tower is unpainted dark gray stone; lantern is a lighter gray. Solabre has a good photo, Trabas also has a photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The wooded island, a nature reserve, is located in the middle of the Ría de Pontevedra about 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Marín. Located on the southern tip of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-159; ES-04630; Admiralty D1860; NGA 2856.
Faro de Ons
Faro de Ons, September 2008
Creative Commons photo by Marcos González
* Punta Couso
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); three flashes every 10.5 s, white or green depending on direction. 5 m (16 ft) stone tower with gallery; the light is displayed from a short mast. Tower painted white with a narrow green band at the top. A good photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory at the southern entrance to the Ría de Pontevedra about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Cambados. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-204; ES-04710; Admiralty D1873; NGA 2896.

Southern Pontevedra Lighthouses
Note: Lighthouses in the southern part of Pontevedra province are operated by the Autoridad Portuaria de Vigo.
* Cabo del Home Anterior (Range Front)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white light, 1.3 s on, 1.7 s off. 19 m (62 ft) masonry tower with gallery; the light is displayed from a short mast. Tower painted white. A photo is at right, P. Charlon has a photo, and Trabas has a good closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. This light and the Cabo del Home Posterior light form a range guiding ships into the northern entrance to the Ría de Vigo. Located on the western point of the two points of Cabo del Home, about 8 km (5 mi) due west of Cambados. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-331; ES-04760; Admiralty D1876; NGA 2908.
* Punta Robaleira
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (87 ft); two flashes every 7.5 s, white or red depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) short round masonry tower atop a round 1-story masonry equipment room. Tower painted red with white trim. Trabas has a good closeup photo, José Ignacio López also has a closeup photo, an October 2007 photo shows a freshly painted tower, and Google has a good satellite view. Located at the extreme southern tip of the western point of the two points of Cabo del Home, about 8 km (5 mi) due west of Cambados and only 300 m (330 yd) south of the Cabo del Home Anterior light. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1874; NGA 2904.
* Cabo del Home Posterior (Range Rear)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white light, 4.3 s on, 1.7 s off. 13 m (43 ft) masonry tower with gallery; the light is displayed from a short mast. A column behind the mast blocks visibility of the light from directions other than the northwest. Tower painted red with two narrow white horizontal bands. Trabas has a fine photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the eastern point of the two points of Cabo del Home, about 8 km (5 mi) due west of Cambados and 815 m (1/2 mi) east southeast of the front light. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-024; ES-04770; Admiralty D1876.1; NGA 2912.
* Monte Agudo
1904. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); green flash every 5 s. 5 m (16 ft) cylindrical equipment room with gallery; the light is displayed from a short mast. Access to the gallery is by a stairway that spirals around the tower. A circular wall surrounds the light. All structures painted white. Trabas has a distant photo, several closeups are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the northeast coast of Isla Monteagudo, the northernmost of the three Islas Cíes (see next entry). Accessible by a hiking trail from Isla del Faro to the south (the two islands are joined by a sandbar). Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Parque Natural de las Islas Atlánticas. ARLHS SPA-244; Admiralty D1882; NGA 2916.

Cabo del Home Range Front Light
December 2005
Creative Commons photo by Luís Alves
* Monte del Faro (Islas Cíes)
Date unknown (station established 1853). Active; focal plane 185 m (607 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) cylindrical granite tower with lantern and double gallery. Tower is unpainted; lantern painted white. Square 1-story granite keeper's house, also unpainted but with white trim. A photo gives a wonderful view of the peak and lighthouse, a closeup of the light tower is available, and Google has a good satellite view. The Islas Cíes are three steep, rocky islands arranged north to south off the entrance to the Ría de Vigo: Isla Monteagudo on the north, Isla de Faro in the center, and Isla de San Martiño in the south. Each island has a lighthouse, but this one is by far the best known. The lighthouse stands atop a sharp peak and is reached by a steep road having many switchbacks. The islands are part of a national park, accessible at least in the summer by passenger ferries from Cangas and from Vigo. Located at the highest point of Isla del Faro. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Parque Natural de las Islas Atlánticas. ARLHS SPA-181; ES-04740; Admiralty D1884; NGA 2920.
* Punta Canabal ("Farol da Porta")
1918. Active; focal plane 63 m (207 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 10 m two-stage cylindrical tower, with a narrow column mounted atop a circular 1-story equipment room. Tower painted white with a narrow blue horizontal band. A 2008 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southern end of Isla del Faro, marking the passage between that island and the Isla de San Martiño. Accessible by hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Parque Natural de las Islas Atlánticas. ARLHS SPA-201; Admiralty D1886; NGA 2924.
* La Guía
Date unknown (station established 1844). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white light occulting three times, in a 2+1 pattern, every 20 s. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Trabas has an excellent photo, which shows that the tower is nowhere near the 21 m (69 ft) height listed by NGA, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Huelse has a historic postcard view showing a small attached cottage and a secondary lantern, both of which have been removed. Located on a promontory at the end of the Calle del Doctor Corbal in La Guía, a neighborhood northeast of Vigo on the south side of the Ría de Vigo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-172; ES-05010; Admiralty D1901.5; NGA 3012.
Cabo Estay Anterior (Range Front)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 6 m (20 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Fog horn (Morse code "V" for Vigo: three shorts and one long, every 60 s). Trabas has an excellent closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland on the south side of the lower Ría de Vigo, about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Vigo and 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of Saiáns. Site status unknown. ARLHS SPA-332; ES-05210; Admiralty D1890; NGA 2940.
* Cabo Estay Posterior (Range Rear)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 7 m (23 ft) tile-covered hexagonal tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has an excellent photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located beside the Avenida de Ricardo Mella (PO 325), 660 m (0.4 mi) east northeast of the front light. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-333; ES-05211(?); Admiralty D1890.1; NGA 2944.
Cabezo de San Juan (Panjon) Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round masonry beacon with watch room and gallery, painted white. Trabas has a photo, a view from shore is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 1.5 km (1 mi) offshore of Paraviñabal. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty 1911; NGA 3040.
* Cabezo de San Juan (Panjon) Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white light occulting once every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round masonry tower with gallery, mounted on an octagonal base. Tower painted white with black trim. Trabas has a closeup photo. Located on the Avenida Canido in Paraviñabal, a resort town north of Baiona. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty 1911.1; NGA 3044.
* Cabo Silleiro (2)
1924 (station established 1866). Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); three white flashes in a 2+1 pattern every 15 s. 30 m (98 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a large 2-story keeper's complex. Tower painted with red and white horizontal bands; lantern is red; keeper's house painted white with unpainted gray stone trim. The port authority's aerial photo appears at right, a fine closeup is available, Solabre also has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard image of the 1866 lighthouse. Cabo Silleiro is a very prominent headland at the southern entrance to the Ría de Vigo, and the lighthouse here is important as a landfall light for Vigo and all the ports of Galicia. Located just above the PO-552 coastal highway about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Baiona. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-047; ES-05280; Admiralty D1916; NGA 3052.

Faro de Cabo Silleiro
photo by Autoridad Portuaria de Vigo

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Posted December 2, 2005. Checked and revised March 3, 2009. Lighthouses: 64. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.