Name and Location

Matxitxako Lighthouse, officially known in Spanish as Faro de Cabo Machichaco, is an active beacon located on the northern coast of Spain. The address is Kalea Arene, 60, Gibelortzaga, 48370 Bermeo, Bizkaia, Spain, with coordinates 43°27′19.3″ N, 2°45′10.2″ W (decimal 43.4553585, –2.7528358). The lighthouse is situated on the rugged Basque coastline, about 10 km north-west of Bermeo town.

Construction and History

The Matxitxako Lighthouse was first lit in 1852 to reduce shipwrecks on the rocky headland and guide coastal traffic into the estuaries of Bizkaia. Originally manned, it was automated in the late 20th century and is now remotely monitored, including meteorological observations.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a masonry tower attached to a single-storey keeper's house, built with locally quarried stone, rendered, and painted white. The lantern room is made of red metalwork, typical of mid-19th-century functional design in Spanish maritime lighthouses.

Light and Navigation

Unfortunately, technical specifications such as tower height, focal plane, optic, range, and characteristic are not publicly documented.

Accessibility and Visiting

The exterior and grounds can be reached by coastal road and walking trails. Visitors can hike (about 1 km) along the clifftop footpath to the lighthouse from the village of Bakio or Bermeo. However, the tower interior is closed to general visitors.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the top of the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy panoramic vistas over the Bay of Biscay, rocky islets, and offshore reefs. In rough weather, dramatic wave action creates a stunning display.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The name Machichaco is shared with the 19th-century steamship SS Machichaco that exploded in Bilbao in 1893 – visitors occasionally note the coincidence. Historical records mention three families of lighthouse keepers serving multi-generation watch duties, specific logs held at the Bilbao maritime museum.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated, with a grid-connected power source and backup generator. It is remotely monitored, including meteorological observations. No radar installation is present on the tower itself; AIS receivers are likely managed by the port authority.

Further Information

• For further information, consult Spanish Wikipedia: "es:Faro de Cabo Machichaco", Wikidata: Q10971033, Commons image: File:Cape_of_Matxitxako_-_lighthouse.jpg (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cape_of_Matxitxako_-_lighthouse.jpg), Puertos del Estado (Official portal): www.puertos.es, and Regional guide: "Lighthouses of the Basque Coast," Euskal Itsasargiak, 2018 edition.