Name and Location

The Φάρος Μανδηλού (Mandilou Lighthouse) is an active navigational aid located on the eastern coast of the island of Evia (Euboea), Greece. It marks the approaches to Karystos Bay from the South Euboean Gulf. The official name is Φ��ρο���� Μαν��ηλού, and it is sometimes referred to as "Karistos Eastern Light". The lighthouse stands at coordinates 37°56′01″ N, 24°31′31″ E.

2. Construction and History

The date of construction for the Mandilou Lighthouse is not recorded in publicly available sources, but it likely dates back to the mid-20th century. The architect or designer are unknown, and the lighthouse was built using reinforced concrete (tower and lantern room) and masonry base.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Mandilou Lighthouse has a small cylindrical or square tower (approximately 5-7 meters tall) set on a one-storey equipment room. The tower is whitewashed, giving it a distinctive appearance.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse is operational and unmanned (automated). It has an estimated focal height of 12-15 meters above sea level. The nominal range is approximately 5 nautical miles (white light). The light characteristic is not published in standard handbooks, but mariners should consult Greek Notices to Mariners and Admiralty List of Lights.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is not open to visitors, but the site at its base can be reached on foot. A narrow paved road leads from the village of Platanistós, with parking available roadside. The foreshore path offers views of the surrounding area.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

Perched just above a naturally rocky shoreline, the lighthouse commands clear seaward panoramas. On calm days, one can see Pelion's foothills on the mainland across the gulf; inland, the rugged slopes of south-Evia rise to forested summits.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen speak of a 19th-century "mandili" ("handkerchief") superstition that claims tossing a cloth at the point would ward off sudden storms. No confirmed shipwrecks are recorded directly off Mandilou Point, though the broader gulf has claimed vessels in southerly gales.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service (Υδρογραφική Υπηρεσία του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού). It is fully automated, with solar panels and battery backup providing power. There are no keeper's quarters on site.

9. Further Information

Further information can be found in the Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service – Notices to Mariners, "Lighthouses of Greece" by the Hellenic Lighthouse Society (www.hls.gr), Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals, Volume E (NP292) by UKHO, and Google Maps/Earth imagery for up-to-date satellite views.