Name and Location

The Monte Orlando Lighthouse, also known as Faro di Monte Orlando, is located in Italy at coordinates 41°12′24.2″ N, 13°34′39.9″ E. The address is Penisola Gaetana, 04024 Gaeta (LT), Lazio, Italy.

Construction and History

The exact year of construction for the Monte Orlando Lighthouse is not documented; however, it is believed to have been built in the early 20th century. The lighthouse has a utilitarian coastal-defense style typical of Italian lighthouses from that period.

Architecture and Materials

The tower shape is cylindrical, and the lighthouse is made of masonry with a single-storey keeper's house attached. The building is painted white.

Light and Navigation

The focal height of the light is 185 meters above sea level, with a range of 23 nautical miles. The characteristic is a group of three white flashes every 15 seconds (Fl (3) W 15s). The sequence detail is: 0.2s flash + 2.8s dark + 0.2s flash + 2.8s dark + 0.2s flash + 8.8s dark = 15s cycle.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Parco di Monte Orlando, including the lighthouse grounds, is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The tower itself is closed to visitors. Visitors can access the park by car or on foot via marked trails from Gaeta town center. Facilities include picnic areas, panoramic viewpoints, and informational panels about local flora and fauna.

Notable Views and Landscape

The Monte Orlando Lighthouse offers stunning 360° views over the Gulf of Gaeta, Ischia and Procida islands, and the Aurunci Mountains. The views are particularly popular at sunrise and sunset and are a frequent subject of landscape and maritime photography.

Anecdotes and Folklore

According to local legend, during the Middle Ages, watchmen used fires on Monte Orlando to warn of Saracen raids. While there are no documented shipwrecks directly tied to this light, the promontory was long known as a navigational hazard.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and monitored remotely by the Marina Militare (Italian Navy). It also has an AIS system, but no radar reported.

Further Information

For further information on the Monte Orlando Lighthouse, please visit the following sources: Marina Militare - List of Italian Lighthouses, NGA List of Lights, Pub. 113, and Italian Wikipedia.