Unknown
WHC8+5M Olbia, Province of Sassari, Italy
Name and Location
Isola della Bacon Lighthouse marks a small skerry off the northeastern coast of Sardinia, Italy, within the territorial waters of the Province of Sassari. The lighthouse stands at coordinates 40°55′13″ N, 9°34′00″ E (40.9204835, 9.5667293).
Construction and History
The exact year of construction or architect is unknown. The simple utilitarian design and materials suggest a mid-20th-century origin, likely dating from the post-war period when many Italian minor lights were automated.
Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse has a cylindrical concrete tower painted white, with a height of 12 meters above base. The lantern features catadioptric optics and an external gallery. A single-storey concrete annex serves as the service building at the tower's base. The focal height is 24 meters above mean sea level.
Light and Navigation
The lighthouse emits a long-flash (LFl) white light, group characteristic 2 + 3 flashes, with a period of 5 seconds. It is visible between bearings 180°–264° (white). The range is 15 nautical miles (primary); reserve light range 11 M.
Accessibility and Visiting
Notable Views and Landscape
From the lantern gallery, visitors enjoy panoramic views eastward toward Capo Figari and west toward the Golfo di Olbia. The surrounding marine environment is part of a coastal protected area, frequented by seabirds and occasional bottlenose dolphins.
Anecdotes and Folklore
Mariners tell of sudden squalls funneling between the islet and Capo Figari, making the beacon crucial for safe passage. Local fishermen speak of ghostly foghorn blasts heard at dead-of-night, though these may stem from distant shipping traffic.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse is fully automatic and unmanned, with scheduled quarterly maintenance visits by lighthouse technicians. It features a nautophone fog signal broadcasting every 30 seconds and radar transponder (racon) emitting "O" on X-band. The MMSI is 992471127, aiding vessel traffic identification.
Further Information
For further information, refer to U.S. NGA Pub. 113 – "List of Lights, Radio Aids, and Fog Signals: Mediterranean Sea" (2010), Marina Militare's "Elenco dei Fari e Segnali da Nebbia," and regional nautical guides such as "In Mare, tra Torri e fari di Sardegna."
Details
| Name | Unknown |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Country | Other |
| Coordinates | 40.9204835, 9.5667293 |