Faro di Capo Murro di Porco
283P+72 Syracuse, Free municipal consortium of Syracuse, Italy
Name and Location
Faro di Capo Murro di Porco, also known simply as the Capo Murro di Porco Lighthouse, is located on the headland that closes the entrance to Syracuse's natural harbor on the Ionian Sea. The lighthouse is situated in Strada Capo Murro di Porco, 96100 Siracusa SR, Sicily, Italy.
2. Construction and History
The construction date of the lighthouse is not specified, but it appears in late-19th-century maritime charts as "E 1876." The lighthouse was fully automated and has no resident keeper. It was shown on Italian light lists under reference E 1876.
3. Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse features a cylindrical masonry tower (painted white) attached to a single-storey keeper's house, which is now closed to the public. The tower stands at a height of 34 meters above mean sea level and is made of traditional stone and brick masonry, rendered and whitewashed.
4. Light and Navigation
The light pattern is group-flashing 1 + 4 white flashes ("Fl(1+4) W") with a period of 5 seconds (total cycle). The range is 17 nautical miles (primary); reserve lamp range 10 nmi, covering the harbor entrance sector from 090° to 160°.
5. Accessibility and Visiting
The site is on a military-controlled headland; the tower and buildings are closed to visitors. Visitors may walk around the exterior for panoramic views but must respect fenced perimeters and warning signs. Reachable by car or on foot via Strada Capo Murro di Porco off SS114; parking is available near the promontory.
6. Notable Views and Landscape
The lighthouse offers panoramic vistas over the Gulf of Syracuse, Ortygia Island, and the city's eastern skyline. The surrounding landscape features a rocky promontory with Mediterranean scrub and steep cliffs dropping to the Ionian Sea.
7. Anecdotes and Folklore
According to local tradition (unverified), the name "Capo Murro di Porco" literally means "Cape of the Pig's Wall," possibly linking it to a crumbling sea-wall where wild boar once roamed, but the exact origin remains obscure.
8. Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse is managed by the Italian Marina Militare (Coast Guard) and operates an AIS station with MMSI 992471060, providing real-time vessel traffic information.
9. Further Information
For further reading, refer to "Marina Militare 'Fari e Segnalazioni Marittime'" (official), "The Lighthouses of Italy," Douglas Blandford's Lighthouse Directory, and Italian Wikipedia: "Faro di Capo Murro di Porco."
Details
| Name | Faro di Capo Murro di Porco |
|---|---|
| City | Siracusa |
| Country | Italy |
| Coordinates | 37.0031458, 15.3350609 |
| Historic significance | Locally regarded as part of Syracuse's maritime heritage |
| Stories | Toponym: “Capo Murro di Porco” literally means “Cape of the Pig’s Wall.” Local tradition (unverified) links the name to a crumbling sea-wall where wild boar once roamed, but the exact origin remains obscure. |
| Architectural style | Functional 19th-century maritime architecture |
| Construction material | "Traditional stone and brick masonry, rendered and whitewashed" |
| Focal height | 34 |
| Tower height | 34 |
| Heritage status | false |
| Access description | Reachable by car or on foot via Strada Capo Murro di Porco off SS114; parking is available near the promontory. |
| Accessible | false |
| Parking | true |
| Landscape type | Rocky promontory with Mediterranean scrub and steep cliffs dropping to the Ionian Sea. |
| View description | Panoramic vistas over the Gulf of Syracuse, Ortygia Island, and the city's eastern skyline. |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | Toilets, Café, Gift shop |
| Nearby attractions | ["Ortygia historic center","Neapolis Archaeological Park (Ear of Dionysius, Greek Theatre)","Natural Marine Reserve of Plemmirio"] |
| AIS Radar | true |
| Light characteristic | "Fl(1+4) W" |
| Light range | 17 |
| Automated | true |