Name and Location

The Far de Capdepera, also known as the Faro de Cala Ratjada, is a principal lighthouse marking the northeastern tip of Mallorca, Spain. It is situated on Punta de Capdepera in the district of Cala Gat within the municipality of Capdepera.

2. Construction and History

The Far de Capdepera was built as part of Spain's mid-19th-century plan to improve maritime safety around the Balearic archipelago. The precise date of commissioning is not documented, but some sources suggest the tower was completed in the 1860s.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features a traditional 19th-century masonry design with a cylindrical tower made from local stone and brick, finished with white stucco. Attached to the tower is a single-story keeper's quarters, now unoccupied. The focal height of the light is 76 meters above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a group flashing light every 20 seconds, consisting of two quick flashes followed by three quick flashes. The light is visible from 148° clockwise to 010°, covering approaches from the east and northeast. It serves as an aid to navigation for commercial shipping and local fishing vessels.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The site can be accessed via a coastal path from Cala Ratjada (Cala Gat parking area), which takes approximately 15-20 minutes on foot. However, tower entry is closed to the public. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views over the Mediterranean, Cala Ratjada harbour to the west, and the sea corridor toward Menorca to the northeast.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse stands on a rugged limestone coastline with typical Mediterranean maquis vegetation. The setting offers stunning views of Cala Ratjada bay and Capdepera cliffs to the west, as well as the channel separating Mallorca from Menorca to the east.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen share stories of the light guiding small craft safely back through sudden summer squalls. Oral tradition also speaks of an early keeper who once rowed out in a gale to rescue cast-away sailors from a wreck off Cap de Ferrutx (although this anecdote has not been verified in official records).

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is automated, with no permanent staff on site. It is managed by the Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares under Spain's Comisión de Faros.

9. Further Information

For detailed archival history, refer to "Lighthouses of Spain: Balearic Islands" (Comisión de Faros publication) or "Faros de Mallorca," Joaquín Galmés, 1998.