Name and Location

Faro di Gelso is a small coastal lighthouse situated on the southwestern flank of Vulcano Island, one of the seven Aeolian Islands off Sicily's north-eastern coast. Its official address is Strada Provinciale 179 (Località Gelso di Vulcano), 98055 Lipari ME, Sicily, Italy. The island coordinates are 38°22′01.7″N, 14°59′30.1″E.

Construction and History

The Faro di Gelso was constructed without a documented date. It is managed by the Marina Militare (Italian Navy), Servizio Fari e Segnalamenti, and is fully automated with no resident keepers.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse has a slender cylindrical masonry tower, painted white. The lantern is enclosed, with a gallery rail painted in a contrasting color (often red). There is no attached keeper's house; instead, maintenance tools are stored in a small ground-level annex.

Light and Navigation

The tower height is approximately 5-7 meters above the rocky platform (estimated), while the focal plane is estimated at some 15-20 meters above sea level. The range is approximately 5-8 nautical miles, typical for minor harbour lights. The light characteristic is unspecified but likely a single white flash every few seconds.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site can be reached on foot via SP179 from Vulcano Porto (about 20 minutes' walk). However, the tower itself is fenced and not open to visitors due to safety concerns. Public access is allowed, but caution should be exercised when approaching the cliff edge.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the lighthouse, one can enjoy a sweeping panorama westward across the Tyrrhenian Sea toward Lipari, Salina, Filicudi, and Alicudi islands; to the east, the volcanic cones of Vulcano Grande and Forgia Vecchia. The surrounding landscape is typical Aeolian basaltic rock interspersed with dwarf palms, juniper, and oleander.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Locally, the site is informally referred to as "Faro del Gelso" in memory of mulberry trees that once thrived here. Although no significant shipwrecks are recorded in the immediate vicinity, the channel between Vulcano and Lipari has long held strong tidal currents.

Technical and Operational Details

Specific technical characteristics are not officially published. However, it is known that the lighthouse is fully automated with no resident keepers.

Further Information

For further reading, refer to the Marina Militare – Elenco dei Fari e Segnalamenti (annual publication), Istituto Idrografico della Marina – Carta AA 330, “Isole Eolie,” and OpenStreetMap entry: way/237358217.