Name and Location

The Spignon Lighthouse, also known as Faro di Spignon, is a minor navigational light located in the Venetian Lagoon, on the seaward side of the Lido–Malamocco inlet. Its approximate address is Strada Zaffi da Barca, 106, 30126 Venezia VE, Italy.

2. Construction and History

The exact date of construction is unknown, but it likely dates back to the late 19th or early 20th century as part of the Austro-Hungarian and later Italian coastal lighting network. The original purpose was to mark the narrow channel through the Lido barrier islands, guiding ships past sandbanks into the Malamocco inlet.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse has a small masonry tower (square or cylindrical) painted white, topped by a lantern room with metal framing. It is constructed with a brick or concrete core and stucco finish, typical of Venetian-lagoon aids. The estimated height above base is 6–8 meters.

4. Light and Navigation

The light characteristic has not been documented, but it likely consists of a single white flash every 5–10 seconds. The nominal range is probably 5–8 nautical miles. The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation for vessels entering and leaving Venice from the Adriatic.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The tower is closed to visitors, with no public landing platform or facilities on site. It can only be reached by private boat or water taxi from Lido or Malamocco piers.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse faces the open Adriatic, surrounded by tidal flats and salt-marsh vegetation. The wider area forms part of the Venice Lagoon UNESCO World Heritage buffer zone.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

No notable anecdotes or folklore are available about this lighthouse.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and managed under Italy's lighthouse service (Servizio dei Fari e Segnalamenti Marittimi), a branch of the Marina Militare (Italian Navy).

9. Further Information

For further information, refer to OpenStreetMap entry (https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/146173719), Italian Wikipedia (https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spignon), Istituto Idrografico della Marina charts – volume covering the Northern Adriatic, and “Fari e Segnalamenti Marittimi – Guida agli Impianti,” Marina Militare publications.