Name and Location

The Faro di Capo Scaramia, also known as the Faro di Punta Secca, is an active coastal lighthouse located on the south-eastern coast of Sicily, Italy. It sits at the extremity of a small promontory that shelters the fishing village of Punta Secca, part of the municipality of Santa Croce Camerina in the province of Ragusa.

Construction and History

The Faro di Capo Scaramia was constructed during the mid-19th century, with its first operational phase dating back to around 1860. It was built by the Genio Civile under the Bourbon rule of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. After Italian unification, the lighthouse was transferred to the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) and automated in the late 20th century.

Architecture and Materials

The tower is a masonry cylindrical structure rising from a one-storey keeper's house. The marking consists of the tower and lantern painted white, with a balcony and trim in a contrasting color traditionally black or dark grey. The height of the tower is 37 meters, while the focal height is not publicly available.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse uses a traditional Fresnel lens (assumed) for its light source, although specific details about the characteristic and nominal range are not specified. It also features an AIS radio station installed and maintained by the Marina Militare.

Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds and exterior of the lighthouse are visible from the seaside promenade, but the tower and lantern are not open to the public. Visitors can access the site by walking along Lungomare Amerigo Vespucci from Punta Secca village center, with limited roadside parking available.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking a small sandy beach and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. To the north lies the low-lying fishing hamlet of Punta Secca, offering panoramic views over the Gulf of Vittoria.

Technical and Operational Details

The managing authority is the Servizio Fari e Segnalamenti, Marina Militare Italiana. The lighthouse's heritage status is not listed among Italy's national monuments, but it is locally regarded as a landmark of Punta Secca. Its current use is as an active aid to navigation with AIS broadcasting.

Further Information

For more information, visit the Marina Militare Italiana online database or consult the OpenStreetMap way/246357370 (Faro di Capo Scaramia).