Name and Location

The Faro di Capo Frasca is an active coastal lighthouse located at QF94+G7 Arbus, Province of South Sardinia, Italy. Its official name is Faro di Capo Frasca, and it is managed by the Marina Militare (Italian Navy – Servizio Fari). The lighthouse marks the western approach to the Gulf of Oristano on Sardinia's southwestern shore.

2. Construction and History

The Faro di Capo Frasca was erected in the early 20th century, with a construction era dating back to circa 1910-1920. Its purpose is to guide vessels around the rocky headland and the shifting sands of the nearby beaches. The lighthouse has been fully automated since the late 20th century, with no resident keepers on-site.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Faro di Capo Frasca features a slender cylindrical masonry tower, painted white. The lantern and gallery consist of a metal framework with a glass-paneled lantern room and external catwalk. An adjacent single-storey building clad in white stucco serves as the keeper's house. The architectural style is functional, early-20th-century Italian lighthouse design, with minimal decorative detailing.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits one white flash every 10 seconds (Fl W 10 s) and has a nominal range of 23 nautical miles. Its focal height is about 65 meters above mean sea level, and the tower height is approximately 13 meters above base level. The light characteristic is powered by electric motor with backup battery power.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The Faro di Capo Frasca station is located on private military territory and is not open for interior visits; exterior viewing only is possible. Visitors can reach the site from Arbus by following the Strada Provinciale 83 toward Capo Frasca, then a gravel track ("Strada Senza Nome") to the headland; high-clearance vehicle recommended.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding environment features wild Mediterranean scrub, cliffs interspersed with sandy coves, and nesting grounds for seabirds. The nearby beaches include Porto Botte (rocky inlet) and Spiaggia di Piscinas (dunes up to 60 meters high). The site is a popular spot at sunset, offering panoramic views of the sea and coastline.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Tradition holds that the reef off Capo Frasca has claimed numerous 19th-century sailing vessels before the lighthouse was built. Oral history speaks of isolated winter quarters and hard sea-patrols undertaken by keepers.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Faro di Capo Frasca is managed by the Marina Militare – Comando dei Fari e Segnalamento Marittimo, with technical maintenance contracted to local maritime services under Italian Navy supervision.

9. Further Information

Further information on the lighthouse can be found in Marina Militare's "Elenco dei Fari in Servizio" (official list of active lighthouses), Istituto Idrografico della Marina's Carta dei Fari e Segnalamenti 1:150,000, and Regional tourism portal Sardegna Turismo – "Faro di Capo Frasca".