Name and Location

The Phare de la Giraglia is a 19th-century sea-light located on the rocky islet of Giraglia, at the northern tip of Cap Corse (Haute-Corse, Corsica, France). The official address is Phare La Giraglia, D153, Ersa, Haute-Corse, Corsica, France. The coordinates are 43°01′35.9″ N, 9°24′19.6″ E.

2. Construction and History

The lighthouse was planned and designed in the mid-19th century under the direction of the French Commission des Phares. Construction took place from 1845 to 1848, with the light first being lit in 1848. The lighthouse was automated between 1977 and 1992, and since then it has been unmanned.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Phare de la Giraglia is a classical cylindrical stone tower with a gallery and lantern room, typical of mid-19th-century French lighthouse design. The tower is made of local granite masonry, while the lantern is cast iron. The height of the tower is 44 meters, and the focal height is 44 meters above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is Fl(3) W 15 s (three white flashes every 15 seconds). The range of the light is approximately 20 nautical miles. The apparatus used is a modern rotating beacon with a medium-intensity electric lamp, powered by mains electricity via subsea cable and battery backup.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is not open to the public, as it is located on an uninhabited islet that requires prior authorization from maritime authorities for landing. The best views of the lighthouse can be obtained from passing boats or from the Cap Corse coastline (nearest viewpoints at Barcaggio or Tollare).

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape features rugged granite cliffs, sparse coastal scrub, and seabirds nesting on the cliffs. From the top of the lighthouse, one can see clear views north to the Italian island of Capraia and south along the eastern Cap Corse shoreline.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend holds that former keepers once rescued castaways from storm-wrecked fishing boats. Since 1953, the annual Giraglia Rolex Cup sailboat race has used the lighthouse as a turning mark, with visiting crews often making short on-shore calls when conditions permit.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is operated by the Service des phares et balises (French Directorate of Maritime Affairs) and is fully automated, remotely monitored from Bastia station. Maintenance is carried out through periodic visits by lighthouse technicians via boat.

9. Further Information

For more information on the Phare de la Giraglia, refer to French Wikipedia: fr:Phare de la Giraglia, Base Mérimée (Ministère de la Culture) PA2B000014, SHOM nautical charts series 6304 and M6084, Service des phares et balises website (France).