Name and Location

Faro dell'Isola Razzoli (Razzoli Island Lighthouse) is located on Isola Razzoli in the La Maddalena archipelago, off the northern coast of Sardinia, Italy. Its municipality is La Maddalena (Province of Sassari), region Sardegna (Sardinia), and address for approach by sea or helicopter is Razzoli, 07024 La Maddalena SS, Italy.

Construction and History

Commissioned in 1858 during the final years of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Faro dell'Isola Razzoli remains an important aid to navigation in the Strait of Bonifacio. It was first lit in 1858 and recorded as "historic—lighthouse" in local heritage inventories.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a masonry tower with a tapering cylindrical shape rising from a one-story keeper's house, constructed using local stone and lime mortar, painted white for high visibility. Its height and focal plane above sea level are not specified.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse exhibits a characteristic flash every 5-15 seconds (data not publicly published), with a range expected to be 10-15 nautical miles. It is powered by solar panels with battery backup, common on small automated Italian lights.

Accessibility and Visiting

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse stands on a rocky point with panoramic views toward Corsica and the sea lanes of the Strait of Bonifacio, surrounded by rugged granite islets, maquis shrubland, and clear Mediterranean waters. The area is home to nesting seabirds and protected habitat under the Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park.

Anecdotes and Folklore

According to legend, in the late 19th century, lighthouse keepers struck up a friendship with fishermen from nearby Budelli Island, exchanging supplies by rowboat. During World War II, the light was darkened to hinder Allied shipping, and for a time, the structure housed Italian coastal lookouts.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated (no resident keepers since late 20th century) and uses a modern rotating acrylic apparatus (standard for automated lighthouses).

Further Information

For more information, visit the Italian Wikipedia page at https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faro_dell%27Isola_Razzoli, Marina Militare (Servizio Fari) site at http://www.marina.difesa.it/cosa-facciamo/per-la-difesa-sicurezza/fari/Pagine/1878.aspx, or the Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park website at https://www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.arc.maddalena/.