Lighthouses of Northern Spain

This page lists lighthouses of Spain's northern coast, including the provinces of Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya, Cantabria, and Asturias. In general this is a beautiful coastline where mountains drop steeply into the sea, and occasional water gaps create small sheltered harbors.

The eastern portion of the coast (in Guipúzcoa and Vizcaya) is within the Basque region (Euskadi). Web sites based in this area are often in the Basque language rather than (or in addition to) Spanish.

The Spanish word for a lighthouse is faro, 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.

What's Hot:

Faro de Tazones to be a cultural center and museum

General Sources
Libro de Faros

A comprehensive web site for Spanish lighthouses, maintained by Agustín Solabre Suárez.

Online List of Lights - Spain North Coast

A huge collection of photos posted by Alexander Trabas.

Lighthouses in Spain

Excellent aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.

Farosdelmundo.com

Photos and accounts by Carlos Olmo Bosco.

La Costa de Euskalherria

This site by Andres Ruíz González is devoted to the Basque coastline; it has some excellent lighthouse photos.

Faros de Cantabria

A very fine, comprehensive site on the lighthouses of Cantabria, with many photos.

Costa Cantabria - 9 Faros

Excellent photos by L.A.M.Magadán.

Autoridad Portuaria de Gijón - Faros

The Gijón port authority has excellent information and photos for lighthouses of eastern Asturias.

Phares du Monde

This French-language site by Alain Guyomard and Robert Carceller has pages for many of the lighthouses of northern Spain.

Leuchttürme Spaniens auf historischen Postkarten

Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.

Faro de San Emeterio

Faro de Torres
Autoridad Portuaria de Gijón photos

Lighthouses of Guipúzcoa
Note: Lighthouses in Guipúzcoa are operated by the Autoridad Portuaria de Pasajes.
* Cabo Higuer (Fuenterrabía, Hondarribia) (2): 1881 (station established 1855). Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 21 m (69 ft) 2-stage cylindrical stone tower with lantern and two galleries, the lower stage square and the upper stage octagonal, attached to a 1-story stone keeper's house. Building painted white with unpainted stone trim; the upper stage appears white with unpainted gray stone vertical stripes. The lantern is painted red, which is very unusual for a Spanish lighthouse. Trabas has a great photo, Guyomard and Carceller have good photos, and Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard view. The original lighthouse was destroyed during the Carlist civil war in 1874. Cabo Higuer shelters the entrance to the Bahía de Txingudi (Baie de Chingoudy), an international harbor that serves both Hondarribia, Spain, and Hendaye, France. Located on the cape, about 3.5 km (2 mi) north of Hondarribia; Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-029; ES-00040; Admiralty D1452; NGA 1712.
Pasaia Entrada ("Faro de San Juan"): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two red flashes every 7 s. 8 m (26 ft) cylindrical tower mounted on a 1-story square equipment room. Tower painted with narrow red and white horizontal bands; equipment room painted white. Trabas has a closeup photo, and another photo is available. The light marks the entrance to the Bahía de Pasajes, a narrow water gap in a steep mountain ridge. Located at the end of a short jetty on the east side of the entrance, about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Pasai Donibane. Site status unknown. ARLHS SPA-280; Admiralty D1457; NGA 1732.
* Dique de Senokozulúa: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical solid concrete tower rising from a 1-story concrete block equipment room. Tower painted with horizontal green and white bands. Trabas has a closeup photo. Located at the end of a breakwater sheltering a small harbor on the east side of the Bahía de Pasajes about 500 m (0.3 mi) southwest of the Faro de San Juan. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1460; NGA 1748.
* [Punta Teodoro Arroca]: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); three red flashes every 9 s. 9 m (30 ft) post light, painted with red and white horizontal bands, standing beside a small equipment shelter. Trabas has a photo. This very modest light is found on most lists of Spanish lighthouses, but I would not consider it to be a lighthouse. Located on the east side of the channel leading to the inner harbor of Pasaia, about 1.5 m (1 mi) north of Pasai Donibane. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-268; Admiralty D1472; NGA 1768.
* [Punta del Mirador]: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) slender stone tower supported by an arch that spans the walkway along the shore. This is not a lighthouse either, but it is an interesting light nonetheless. Trabas has a closeup photo, and another photo is available. This light marks the point where the narrow channel from the sea to Pasaia opens out into the inner harbor. Located off the Torreatze Kalea in Pasaia. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-321; Admiralty D1468; NGA 1756.
Punta de Senokozulúa (Punta de Cruces): 1909. Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); white, red, or green light, depending on direction, 7.5 s on, 1.5 s off, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story stone keeper's house. Tower and keeper's house are unpainted ochre-colored stone; lantern and gallery painted white and the house has a white roof. Trabas has an excellent closeup photo, and Solabre has an aerial photo. This directional light guides ships through the narrow entrance to the Bahía de Pasajes. Located on a bluff above the west side of the channel about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of Pasaia. Site status unknown. ARLHS SPA-127; ES-00140; Admiralty D1458; NGA 1736.
* Cabo La Plata: 1855. Active; focal plane 153 m (502 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery mounted on the flat roof of a 3-story castle-like keeper's house. Building painted white with gray trim. Solabre has an aerial photo, Trabas has a wonderful photo, another good photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The building is set into the mountain so that from the sea only the light tower is visible. The site offers spectacular views of the Atlantic to the north. Located on the Monte Ulía, on the west side of the entrance to the Bahía de Pasajes, about 8 km (5 mi) north of Pasaia by a twisting mountain road. There is a scenic overlook with a picnic area nearby. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-133; ES-00120; Admiralty D1456; NGA 1728.
* Isla de Santa Clara: 1864. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story stone keeper's house. Building painted white with unpainted stone trim; lantern roof is red. Trabas has a photo, Solabre has another photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The lighthouse is built on the site of an 18th century monastery. Located on a steep summit on an island in the mouth of the Bahía de la Concha at San Sebastián, the capital of Guipuzcoa. The island is accessible by passenger ferry during the summer. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-147; ES-00230; Admiralty D1482; NGA 1792.

* Zumaya (Zumaia, Monte Atalaya) (2): 1882 (station established 1870). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white light, occulting four times in a 1+3 pattern every 12 s. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house. Building painted white with blue trim; lantern and gallery painted blue. Trabas has a photo, and Solabre also has a photo. Located at the end of a peninsula on the west side of the entrance to the Río Urola estuary, north of the town of Zumaya. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-003; ES-00370; Admiralty D1493; NGA 1808.
* Rompeolas de Zumaya (Zumaya Breakwater): 1927? Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); green flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) conical stone tower; no lantern. A photo is available, Trabas has a closeup photo, and the port's web page (in Basque) has an aerial photo of the breakwater. Located at the end of a massive, curving breakwater (completed in 1927) that protects the west side of the entrance to the Río Urola estuary. Apparently accessible in good weather by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-322; Admiralty D1494; NGA 1816.
* Mutriku (Motrico) (Range Rear): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 63 m (207 ft); continuous red light. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower of the church of San Miguel Arcangel. Trabas has a closeup, and a photo of the church is available. The front light is on a mast at the end of the harbor breakwater. Located above the harbor of Mutriku (Motrico). Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-320; Admiralty D1496.1; NGA 1828.
Lighthouses of Vizcaya (Bizcaia)
Note: Lighthouses in Vizcaya are operated by the Autoridad Portuaria de Bilbao.
* Cabo de Santa Catalina (Lekeitio): 1862. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); four white flashes, in a 1+3 pattern, every 20 s. 13 m (43 ft) two-stage masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to one end of a 1-story keeper's house. The lower 1/2 of the tower is octagonal cylindrical, and the upper half is conical. Tower is unpainted gray stone, lantern roof metallic, keeper's house painted white. Trabas has a good photo, Solabre has a photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The lighthouse is perched on a vertical cliff at the end of the Avenida de Santa Catalina north of Lekeitio. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-022; ES-00460; Admiralty D1502; NGA 1840.
* Rosape (Punta Lamiaren): Date unknown (station established 1868). Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. Light mounted on one corner of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. House painted white with gold trim. Trabas has a photo. Located on the east side of Rosape harbor, about 1.5 km (1 mi) east of Bermeo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-115; Admiralty D1512; NGA 1868.
* Cabo Machichaco (Matxitxako) (1): 1852. Inactive since 1909. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) stone tower, unpainted. The lantern, probably removed long ago, has been replaced in recent years by a radar antenna. Hans van Reenen has a closeup photo. Located below the current lighthouse; Huelse has a historic postcard view that shows both lighthouses and their relationship. Site open, tower closed.
** Cabo Machichaco (Matxitxako) (2): 1909 (station established 1852). Active; focal plane 122 m (400 ft); white flash every 7 s. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house. Unpainted: the tower is gray-brown stone and the lantern is light gray metal. 1° Fresnel lens in use. Trabas has a photo, a closeup photo taken from the land side is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The lighthouse marks the most prominent and dangerous cape of the Basque coastline and is said to be Spain's most powerful light, with a range of 48 km (24 mi). Located on the cape, at the end of the BI-4203 highway, about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Bermeo. Site open; keepers will usually give guided tours if their time permits. ARLHS SPA-032; ES-00580; Admiralty D1520; NGA 1892.

* Fuerte de la Galea (3?): 1895 (station established 1782). Inactive since about 1905. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) unpainted round cylindrical stone tower with gallery. Lantern removed. A closeup photo is available. The mid-18th century Fuerte de la Galea is located about 1 km (0.6 mi) southeast of Punta Galea. Site open, tower closed.
Getxo Contradique de Algorta (East Breakwater): 1904. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) cylindrical granite tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Trabas has a good closeup photo, Guyomard and Carceller have a photo (at left on their page), and Huelse has a historic postcard view. The Contradique de Algorta, 1148 m (0.71 mi) long, was built between 1893 and 1901 to provide a sheltered harbor at Getxo, the port of the city of Bilbao. Located at the end of the breakwater, guarding the narrow entrance to the inner harbor. Google has a satellite view. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-094; ES-00720; Admiralty D1525; NGA 1912.
* Arriluze (Getxo Contradique de Algorta Arranque): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); continuous white light. 20 m (66 ft) two-stage cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery (upper stage round, lower stage square stone), attached to a 2-story keeper's house. Tower painted white with unpainted stone trim; lantern roof is gray metallic. Solabre has a good photo, Guyomard and Carceller have a photo (at right on their page), and another good closeup is available. Located on the Muelle de Arriluze at the root of the Contradique de Algorta in Getxo; Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-315; Admiralty D1526; ES-00730.
* Santurtzi: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); three green flashes every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern, painted white; lantern dome is brown metallic. Trabas has a closeup photo. The Santurtzi piers are on the west side of the harbor, northwest (outside) the Contradique de Algorta. Located at the easternmost corner of the piers; Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-119; Admiralty D1527; NGA 1920.
Lighthouses of Cantabria
Note: Lighthouses in Cantabria are operated by the Autoridad Portuaria de Santander. The port authority web site has a section with small photos of the lighthouses and information on their characteristics.
* Castillo de Santa Ana (Castro-Urdiales): 1853. Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); four white flashes every 24 s. 16 m (52 ft) stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to one corner of a massive stone castle. The upper portion of the tower is now painted white, although it appears unpainted in Solabre's photos; lantern dome is gray metallic. 1-story keeper's house built atop the castle. Fog siren (Morse code "C" (long-short-long-short) every 60 s.) Trabas has a great photo, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. The lighthouse has been renovated several times; the present lantern is at least the third. The fog siren was added in 1953. The castle and the adjacent church of Santa Maria de la Asunción are among the oldest and best known Gothic buildings of the province; they are believed to date from the 13th century. The peninsula on which they stand provides natural shelter for a small harbor used by fishermen for many centuries. Located atop a vertical cliff at the point of the peninsula in Castro-Urdiales; Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-066; ES-00970; Admiralty D1536; NGA 1964.
* Punta del Caballo: 1863. Inactive since the mid 1990s. 8 m (26 ft) cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, originally painted white. The 2-story keeper's house shown in Solabre's photo has been demolished. This lighthouse was built in a notch cut in the side of Monte Buciero, a near-vertical mountainside. 682 steps, a very challenging descent, lead down to the lighthouse. After automation, the isolated lighthouse was repeatedly vandalized. Its deactivation was the result of this problem, the difficulties of the site, and the close proximity of the Faro del Pescador (next entry). Located on an east-facing headland on the north side of the entrance to the Ría de Treto and the harbor of Santoña. Apparently accessible with some difficulty. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-196; Admiralty D1544.
* Punta del Pescador (Santoña): 1864. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); four white flashes in a 3+1 pattern every 18 s. 13 m (43 ft) masonry tower attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Trabas has a good photo, Carlos Olmo has a photo, and Guyomard and Carceller also have a photo. This light station has been modified extensively and it is not clear how much remains of the original. The station was rebuilt after being heavily damaged by a storm on February 23, 1915. The keeper's house was apparently replaced by a smaller and more modern structure around 1930. In June 2005, the city of Santoña leased the light as a tourist attraction; the plan is to improve the road to the lighthouse and open the keeper's house for overnight accommodations. Like Punta del Caballo, the light station is notched into the side of steep mountain, but in this case there is road access. Located on a north-facing headland about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Santoña and only about 2 km (1.25 mi) northwest of Punta del Caballo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-227; ES-01010; Admiralty D1542; NGA 1984.
* Cabo de Ajo (2): 1985 (station established 1930s?). Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); white light occulting three times (2 s each) every 16 s. 14 m (46 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, rising from a circular 1-story base. Lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is gray metallic. A 2007 photo is available, and Trabas also has a photo. This handsome modern tower, designed by Fernando Rodríguez Pérez, was one of the first new lighthouses built under the Plan de Señales Marítimas 1985-89. Located at the northernmost point of the Cantabrian coastline, at the end of the Barrio del Faro (CA 446) about 8 km (5 mi) north of Ajo. Google has a distant satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-005; ES-01130; Admiralty D1552; NGA 2016.
Isla Mouro: 1860. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); three white flashes every 21 s. 20 m (66 ft) stone tower with lantern and gallery rising from the center of a circular 1-story stone keeper's house; an additional 1-story house is attached. Lighthouse is unpainted stone; lantern is gray metallic. Trabas has a photo, Lighthouse Explorer has a photo of the island and lighthouse, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This highly exposed lighthouse was a dangerous assignment for keepers; one was drowned by a great wave in 1865. As recently as February 1996 a severe storm swept over the tower and extinguished the light. The original lantern was removed around 1990. In 2003-04, the port authority spent 130,000 euros restoring the lighthouse, including installation of a new lantern by helicopter in April 2004. Before and after photos are available. Located on a small island in the mouth of the Bahía de Santander; Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat, and the island is a restricted nature reserve. Site and tower closed, but there ia a good view from the Faro de la Cerda in Santander. ARLHS SPA-153; ES-01150; Admiralty D1554; NGA 2020.

** Cabo Mayor: 1839. Active; focal plane 89 m (292 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) stone tower with lantern and gallery rising from the center of a circular 1-story stone keeper's house; an additional 1-story house is attached. Lighthouse is unpainted stone; gallery painted white; lantern dome is gray metallic. Fog horn (two 3.5 s blasts every 40 s). A fine photo is available, Lighthouse Explorer also has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view; some interior photos are also available. This historic lighthouse was built in response to a royal order of 1833; originally it was part of a fortress that supported the defense of the royal naval base in Santander. Well maintained, it is a popular touist attraction adjacent to the city's Parque Cabo Mayor. Located on a headland projecting into the sea about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of the Faro de la Cerda and the same distance northeast of the Santander waterfront. Google has a fine satellite view. Site open, tower closed except by prior arrangement with the caretakers on duty. ARLHS SPA-033; ES-01140; Admiralty D1561; NGA 2060.
* Suances (Punta Torco de Afuera): 1863. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); three white flashes, in a 2+1 pattern, every 24 s. 9 m (30 ft) cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. Lighthouse is unpainted stone (formerly painted white); gallery painted white; lantern dome is gray metallic. Trabas has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. This lighthouse is built on the site of the medieval fortress of San Martín de la Arena. The original lantern and Fresnel lens were replaced in the 1980s with a modern lantern and a rotating aerobeacon. More recently the station has been demoted to minor status and the aerobeacon has been removed, leaving an empty lantern; the light is now shown from a small lens mounted on the gallery rail. Located at the tip of a peninsula projecting into the sea about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of Suances. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-269; ES-01485; Admiralty D1562; NGA 2064.
* La Silla (San Vicente de la Barquera): 1871. Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); white light, 2.5 s on, 1 s off. 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with unpainted stone trim; lantern is gray metallic. Fog horn (Morse code "V", three shorts and one long, every 30 s). Trabas has a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. In June 2005, the city of San Vicente de la Barquera leased the lighthouse for renovation as a maritime museum. Located atop a bluff on the west side of the entrance to the harbor of San Vicente de la Barquera. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-266; ES-01570; Admiralty D1574; NGA 2096.
Lighthouses of Eastern Asturias
Note: Lighthouses in eastern Asturias are operated by the Autoridad Portuaria de Gijón, which has a section of its web site devoted to the lighthouses.
* Punta San Emeterio: 1864. Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. Building painted white with a red tile roof; lantern dome is silvery metallic. Trabas has a photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located atop a very steep bluff about 7 km (4.5 mi) north of Ribadedeva in easternmost Asturias. Accessible by a challenging road through the mountains. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-218; ES-01620; Admiralty D1580; NGA 2112.
* Llanes (3): 1961 (station established 1860). Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white light occulting four times every 15 s. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story masonry keeper's house. Building painted white with a dark green tile roof; lantern dome is silvery metallic. Trabas has a good photo, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. The original lighthouse, heavily damaged by fire in 1946, was replaced by a temporary tower in 1950. Located directly on the waterfront in Llanes, a small fishing port about halfway between Santander and Gijón. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-319; ES-01640; Admiralty D1582; NGA 2116.
* Dique de Ribadesella: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with a small gallery. The tower is unpainted white concrete with trim painted red. Trabas has a photo, and another closeup is available. Located at the end of the breakwater on the east side of the Ría de Ribadesella. Accesssible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1587; NGA 2124.
* Ribadesella (Punta de Somos): 1861. Active; focal plane 115 m (377 ft); three white flashes, in a 1+2 pattern, every 12 s. 8 m (26 ft) square masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. Building painted white with unpainted stone trim; lantern dome is silvery metallic. Trabas has a photo. Ribadesella is a town facing a small semicircular bay, the Ría de Ribadesella, at the mouth of the river of the same name. Located on a headland about 1 km (0.6 mi) west of the bay. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-275; ES-01660; Admiralty D1586; NGA 2120.
* Cabo Lastres: 1993. Active; focal plane 118 m (387 ft); five white flashes, separated by 3.2 s, every 30 s. 18 m (59 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story masonry equipment building. Lighthouse painted white with black trim; lantern dome painted green. Carlos Olmo has a good photo, and Trabas has a closeup photo. This is one of the new lighthouses of the Plan de Señales Marítimas 1985-89, although its construction lagged somewhat. Located atop a steep headland about 6 km (4 mi) north of Colunga and 40 km (25 mi) east of Gijón. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-053; ES-01680; Admiralty D1591; NGA 2130.

* Candás (Cabo de San Antonio) (3): 1917 (station established 1897). Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white light occulting twice every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house. Tower is unpainted red-brown stone; lantern silvery metallic; house painted white with gray trim. Fog horn (Morse code "C": long-short-long-short every 60 s). Trabas has a closeup photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This light protects the entrance to the fishing port of Carreño, which is protected naturally by the steep ridge of the Cabo de San Antonio; a photo shows this well. A temporary light in 1897 was replaced with a more permanent light in 1904, but both proved unsatisfactory. Located on a sharp promontory about 1 km (0.6 mi) northeast of the Carreño waterfront. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-021; ES-02020; Admiralty D1614; NGA 2208.
* Punta del Cuerno Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 64 m (210 ft); continuous red light. 1-story stucco-clad keeper's house with the light displayed through a window in the gable at the seaward end. House painted white. Trabas has a good photo. The front light is displayed from a lantern-like structure atop an interesting concrete column. Located above the headland of Punta del Cuerno about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) north of the Carreño waterfront. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1616.1; NGA 2216.
* Cabo Peñas (2): 1929 (station established 1852). Active; focal plane 117 m (384 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 18 m (59 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house; clamshell 1° Barbier, Bénard and Turenne Fresnel lens transferred from the original lighthouse. Tower is unpainted gray stone; lantern silvery metallic; house painted white with gray trim. Fog horn (Morse code "P": short-long-long-short every 60 s). Trabas has a great photo, Wikipedia also has a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. A 1932 photo (bottom of the page) shows both the original and the present lighthouse. Cabo Peñas, the northernmost point of Asturias, projects across the coastal shipping lanes, making this one of the most important light stations on the northern coast of Spain. The cape is designated a Biological Reserve and also a Protected Landscape (Paisaje Protegido). Located on the heights above the cape, at the end of the AS-328 highway, about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Gozón. Google has a good satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-037; ES-02080; Admiralty D1628; NGA 2236.
Western Asturias Lighthouses
Note: Lighthouses in Asturias west of Cabo Peñas are operated by the Autoridad Portuaria de Avilés.
* Avilés: 1863. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white or red light, depending on direction, 3.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story keeper's house; drum style Fresnel lens. Tower is unpainted brick and stone; lantern silvery metallic. A second, 2-story keeper's house is adjacent. Fog siren (Morse code "A": one short, one long, every 30 s) located 190 m (200 yd) northwest. Carlos Olmo has a good photo, a web page with many photos is available, as well as a fine closeup and some some interior views. The present lantern was installed in 1957. Located at the end of the AS-329 highway, on the north side of the entrance to the harbor of Avilés. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-128; ES-02100; Admiralty D1630; NGA 2240.
Avilés Canal de Entrada (Entrance Channel): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); continuous green light. 8 m (26 ft) post mounted atop a small concrete equipment room. Post painted green. A photo is available; the Faro de Avilés can be seen in the distance in this photo. Located at the end of the south jetty at the entrance to the harbor of Avilés. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SPA-316; ES-02130; Admiralty D1631.28; NGA 2246.
Dique de San Esteban: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two white flashes every 12 s. 8 m (26 ft) post mounted atop a small concrete equipment room. NGA lists the post as being painted with black and white horizontal bands, but the beacon appears unpainted in Trabas's photo and also in Solabre's photo. Fog horn (Morse code "N": one long, one short, every 30 s). Located at the elbow of the breakwater on the west side of the entrance to the Río Nalón at San Esteban de Pravia. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SPA-318; Admiralty ES-02368; D1634; NGA 2248.
* Punta Roballera (Cudillero): 1858. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white light occulting four time every 16 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal masonry tower with lantern and double gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story keeper's house. Tower painted white. Fog horn (Morse code "D": one long, two shorts, every 30 s). Trabas has a photo and a fine 2007 photo is available. This lighthouse has a spectacular site, even by the standards of this coast: it seems almost suspended above the sea. It earns its nickname as El Guardián del Vértigo. Bonfires have been lit at this spot for centuries to aid sailors. The lighthouse was expanded in 1921 and again in the 1980s as part of the Plan de Señales Marítimas; at that time the tower was heightened with a new lantern and the second gallery. Located atop a vertical headland about 1.5 km (1 mi) north of Cudillero. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-255; ES-02470; Admiralty D1640; NGA 2276.
* Cabo Vidio: 1950. Active; focal plane 101 m (331 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) cylindrical stone tower with U-shaped cross-section, lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story stucco-clad keeper's house; 3° Fresnel lens. Buildings are unpainted; lantern and gallery painted white. Fog horn (Morse code "V": three shorts followed by one long, every 60 s). A closeup and a distant view are available, Solabre has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos. Cabo Vidio is a prominent cape that projects about 3 km (2 mi) into the Atlantic roughly 8 km (5 mi) west of Cudillero. Located on the point of the cape. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-055; ES-02510; Admiralty D1641; NGA 2280.
* Cabo Busto (2): 1962 (station established 1858). Active; focal plane 84 m (276 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the front of a 1-story keeper's house; 3° Fresnel lens. Buildings painted white; house has a red tile roof; lantern is all glass including the dome. Trabas has a good photo, Solabre has a photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Cabo Busto is a prominent cape that projects about 3 km (2 mi) into the Atlantic roughly 6 km (4 mi) east of Valdés. Located on the point of the cape; Google has a distant satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-008; ES-02530; Admiralty D1642; NGA 2284.

Isla de Tapia: 1859. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); three white flashes, in a 2+1 pattern, every 19 s. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical stone tower with lantern and double gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story keeper's house. Buildings painted white; lantern silvery metallic. Solabre has a photo; Trabas also has a photo, and Carlos Olmo has a good 2007 photo. Located on a small island just off the harbor of Tapia de Casariego near the western border of Asturias. The island is connected to the mainland by a jetty, which is closed to the public. Site and tower closed, but there are good views from nearby. ARLHS SPA-160; ES-02770; Admiralty D1658; NGA 2328.
* Tapia de Casariego North Mole: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); two red flashes every 7 s. 5 m (16 ft) unpainted masonry tower. A good photo is available. Located at the end of the north mole at Tapia de Casariego. Accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-354; Admiralty D1659; NGA 2332.
* Tapia de Casariego South Mole: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) unpainted masonry tower. A photo showing both mole lights is available. Located at the end of the south mole at Tapia de Casariego. Accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-355; Admiralty D1659.2; NGA 2336.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Grua Mole (1888-1951), Ribadesella

Notable faux lighthouses:

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