Lighthouses of Italy: Sardinia

Lighthouses of Italy: Sardinia (Sardegna)

Sardinia (Sardegna in Italian) is the second largest island of the Mediterranean, after Sicily; the island is about 270 km (170 mi) from north to south and 145 km (90 mi) from east to west. Most of Sardinia is mountainous, and the coastline is rugged. The island has a long and complex history. After several centuries of Spanish rule, the Kingdom of Sardinia became independent in 1718. For many years after that, Sardinia controlled substantial territory on the mainland, including Genoa in Italy and Nice in France. And in 1861, when Italy was united as a single country, the king of Sardinia became king of Italy.

The Italian word for a lighthouse is faro, plural fari. This name is usually reserved for the larger coastal lights; smaller beacons are called fanali. Aids to navigation are operated and maintained by the Italian Navy's Servizio dei Fari. Lighthouse properties are naval reservations, generally fenced and closed to the public.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. EF numbers are from the Italian Navy's light list, Elenco dei Fari e Segnali da Nebbia. Admiralty numbers are from volume E of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.

Special thanks to Egidio Ferrighi for his helpful comments on this page and to Michel Forand for sharing his extensive and careful research on Italian lighthouses.

General Sources

Online List of Lights - Italy

Photos of navigational aids posted by Alexander Trabas.

Il Faro di Han: Sardegna

Part of a large if somewhat confusing web site for Italian lighthouses, this page has small photos and historical information for many of the lighthouses.

Fari Sardegna

Photos posted by Andrea Utzeri.

Lighthouses in Italy

Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.

Egidio Ferrighi - Lighthouses

Excellent photos of Italian lighthouses posted by Egidio Ferrighi.

Cyberlights Lighthouses - Italy - Sardegna

Additional photos of Sardinian lighthouses by Egidio Ferrighi, posted by Gary Richardson and Anna Klein.

Italienische Leuchttürme auf Historischen Postkarten

Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.

Faro di Capo Spartivento, March 2008
Creative Commons photo by Roberto Ferrari

Faro di Sant'Elia, June 2007
Wikipedia Creative Commons photo by Frank K.

Cagliari Province (South Coast) Lighthouses

* Capo Spartivento: 1866. Active; focal plane 81 m (266 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 19 m (62 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the landward side of a 2-story masonry keeper's house. Lighthouse painted brick red with white trim, light tower white; the lantern dome is gray metallic. Roberto Ferrari's photo is at the top of this page, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. This famous lighthouse marks the southernmost tip of Sardinia. After automation, the condition of the lighthouse deteriorated and it was damaged several times by vandals. Ferrighi's photo shows this poor condition. However, the lighthouse has now been restored, and it looks great in Giulio Marziale's January 2007 photo. Note: there is another Capo Spartivento, also with a famous lighthouse, at the southern tip of the Italian mainland in Calabria. Located on the point of the cape about 3 km (2 mi) southwest of Chia. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAR-020; Admiralty E1072; NGA 8448.

Ogliastra Province (Central East Coast) Lighthouses

* Arbatax Molo di Ponente: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); flash every 3 s, white or red depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) bottle-style post light centered on a round 1-story stone base. Post light painted green; the base is unpainted. Trabas has a photo by Arno Siering, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the mole enclosing the west side of the inner harbor of Arbatax. Accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty E1036; NGA 8572.

Isola della Bocca (Olbia): 1887. Active; focal plane 24 m (82 ft); white light, 2 s on, 3 s off. 22 m (72 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the seaward side of a 2-story masonry keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is gray metallic. A fine photo is available, Ferrighi has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island at the mouth (bocca) of the estuary forming the Porto di Olbia. Accessible only by boat, but there are excellent views from the south shore of the estuary at Lido del Sole, 400 m (1/4 mi) away. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SAR-024; EF-1170; Admiralty E1014; NGA 8616.
Isolotto Figarolo: Date unknown (station established 1915). Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); white flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one black horizontal band. A distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Figarolo is a small, steeply mountainous island on the north side of the entrance to the Golfo di Olbia and the east side of the entrance to the smaller Golfo di Aranci. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS SAR-027; EF-1162; Admiralty E1010; NGA 8664.
Costa Smeralda Lighthouses
Isolotti Monaci: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); flash every 5 s, white or red depending on direction. 16 m (52 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. F. Presutti has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. The Isolotti Monaci are a group of dangerous rocks about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of the Isola di Caprera and 8 km (5 mi) north of Capo Ferro. Located atop the largest rock. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAR-005; EF-1142; Admiralty E0998; NGA 8736.
Strait of Bonifacio Lighthouses
Note: The Strait of Bonifacio, only 11 km (7 mi) wide, separates Corsica from Sardinia. Strewn with rocks and shoals, it is one of the most dangerous passages in the western Mediterranean. On the Italian side, at the eastern end of the strait, is a group of islands, the Arcipelago di la Maddalena.
Razzoli (2): 1845. Inactive since 1969. 12 m (39 ft) 2-story masonry keeper's house with lantern and a square masonry watch room centered on the roof. Entire lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is gray metallic. The lighthouse was abandoned when its deterioration made it seem unsafe and uneconomic to maintain. By 2000 the lighthouse was in very poor condition. In 2007, a European Commission grant funded a restoration of the building. Utzeri has a photo showing this work in progress, Massimo Bodellini has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. The Isola di Razzoli is the northwestern end of the Arcipelago di la Maddalena; it is the island closest to Corsica. Located at the northwestern tip of the island. Accessible only by boat; ecotours to the island are available, and there is a pier on the west side of the island where boats can be moored. Site open, building probably open but dangerous. Site manager: Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di la Maddalena. ARLHS SAR-006.

Sassari Province (Northwest Coast) Lighthouses

Golfo dell'Asinara Lighthouses
** Porto Torres (1): 1852. Inactive since 1966. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower, unpainted. Lantern removed. A good photo is available, Bellisario Fasano has a closeup, and Google has a good satellite view. This massive tower was built by the Kingdom of Aragon, which conquered Sardinia in a series of campaigns between 1323 and 1409, inaugurating three centuries of Spanish rule. Huelse has a postcard view of the tower crowned by a short lighthouse; although the lantern has been removed it appears that at least part of the stone base of the lighthouse survives atop the medieval construction. Located just behind the waterfront of Porto Torres (Port of the Towers), a port at the northwestern corner of Sardinia. Site open, tower status unknown, probably open.
* Porto Torres (2): 1966 (station established 1852). Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); two long (2 s) white flashes every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) 4-story rectangular cylindrical cylindrical tower with lantern and three galleries rising from the center of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is gray metallic. Ferrighi has a photo, Utzeri has numerous photos, Trabas has a closeup photo by Arno Siering, a 2008 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This interesting modern lighthouse was built to give Porto Torres a light with much greater range than the historic tower. Located atop a hill (Monte Angellu) on the west side of the town, overlooking the harbor. Site and tower closed (military reservation), but the lighthouse can be viewed from nearby. ARLHS SAR-033; EF-1437; Admiralty E1138; NGA 8216.
Stintino Secca: Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) square pyramidal concrete tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a photo by Arno Siering, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal in the center of the entrance to the harbor at Stintino. Accessible only by boat, but easily viewed from shore. Site open, tower closed. EF-1432; Admiralty E1134; NGA 8264.
* Stintino West Entrance: Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane about 7 m (23 ft); light characteristics unknown. 5 m (17 ft) hexagonal concrete skeletal tower with enclosed lower portion, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A 2008 closeup photo is available, Gian Pierro Faedda has a second closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront in Stintino, this new light is not listed by NGA or the Admiralty. Site open, tower closed.
Isolotto della Maddelena (Alghero): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted red, lantern and gallery white. Johan Dalenius has a photo, Edgley Cesar has a distant view, Trabas has a distant view by Arno Siering, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky islet in the harbor of Alghero. Accessible only by boat; there's a distant view from shore. Site open, tower closed. EF-1415; Admiralty E1122; NGA 8284.

Oristano Province Lighthouses

* [Bosa Marina (1?)]: Date unknown (station established 1883). Inactive for many years. 3- or 4-story masonry keeper's house, painted originally with black and white horizontal bands although most of the paint has faded away. The lighthouse stands seaward of a 15th century Aragonese tower; it can be seen below and to the left of the medieval tower in this photo. A breakwater mole has been built extending southward from the lighthouse and the active light, at the end of the mole, is a 7 m (23 ft) red post displaying a continuous green light above a continuous red light. All this can be seen in an aerial photo, and Google has a satellite view. According to Faro di Han, various proposals to restore the lighthouse as a tourist attraction have come to nothing and the building is falling into ruin. Located on Isola Rossa, an island sheltering the harbor of Bosa Marina. Accessible by walking the mole that connects the island to the mainland. Site open, building closed. EF-1406; Admiralty E1116; NGA 8308.
* Capo Mannu: 1960. Active; focal plane 59 m (194 ft); three long (1.5 s) white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. Trabas has a distant view by Arno Siering, and Google has a satellite view. Ferrighi reports that this lighthouse is in very poor condition. Capo Mannu is highly exposed to the waves and is a favorite spot for surfers. Located at the end of a promontory pointing westward from Porto Mandriola. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAR-016; EF-1404; Admiralty E1112; NGA 8312.

Medio Campidano Province Lighthouse

Capo Frasca (2): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 66 m (217 ft); white flash every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a square base. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. The first lighthouse was described as a 5 m (17 ft) square tower. The area surrounding this light is a naval base also used for NATO forces training. Located on the point of Capo Frasca, marking the south side of the entrance to the Golfo di Oristano. Site and tower closed. EF-1386; Admiralty E1104; NGA 8356.

Carbonia-Iglesias Province (Southwest Coast) Lighthouses

Portoscuso and Isola di San Pietro Lighthouses
La Ghingetta (Portoscuso) (2): Date unknown (station established 1919). Active; focal plane unknown; two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. Approx. 11 m (36 ft) round tower, painted with red and black horizontal bands. Trabas has a photo by Arno Siering, Stefano Sassu has a photo (misidentified as the Scoglio Mangiabarche lighthouse), Fabio Murru also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was described as a skeletal tower. Located on a rocky reef (Scoglio la Ghinghetta) off the harbor of Portoscuso. Accessible only by boat, but there is an excellent view from ferries leaving Portoscuso for Carloforte on the Isola di San Pietro. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SAR-034; EF-1376; Admiralty E1099; NGA 8364.
Isola Piana: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two flashes every 8 s, white or red depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical tower with gallery, painted white. A distant view (with a waterspout) is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Piana is a small island off the northeastern corner of the Isola di San Pietro. Located on the northern tip of the island, marking the northwestern entrance to the Canale di San Pietro, the channel between the Isola di San Pietro and the mainland of Sardinia. Accessible only by boat; the island has a small harbor and docking facilities are available. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAR-025; Admiralty E1103; NGA 8360.
* Carloforte Duomo (Entrance Range Front): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); continuous red light. 22 m (72 ft) cream-colored square bell tower with a small white dome. Giulio Gardu has a closeup of the tower; the light is mounted on a bracket in front of the railing, below the bell. Another photo shows the light at night, a photo is available that looks right up the range, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. In another photo, the rear light can be seen on a short tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands, just to the left of the bell tower. Located in the center of Carloforte, the principal town of the Isola di San Pietro. The island is accessible by ferry from Portoscuso. Site open, tower closed. EF-1365; Admiralty E1093; NGA 8388.
Isolotto Il Vacca: Date unknown. Inactive. 7 m (23 ft) square stone tower; the lantern has been removed. Salvatore Selis has a distant view. Il Vacca (The Cow) is in the same island group as Il Toro. Located on the highest point of the island, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Capo Sperrone. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Capo Figari (?-?), Golfo Aranci, northeast coast. Often listed as a historic lighthouse, this building was a signal station. There is no evidence that it ever carried a light.

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