Name and Location

The Faro de Suances, also known as the Punta del Torco de Afuera Lighthouse, is an active coastal lighthouse located in Suances, Cantabria, Spain. It overlooks the Bay of Biscay and marks the entrance to La Rabia Bay, guiding local and coastal shipping along this rocky stretch of northern Spain.

2. Construction and History

The Faro de Suances was erected in the mid-19th century, with construction authorized and begun in 1863. The exact date of its first lighting is unknown. The lighthouse's architectural style is typical of mid-19th-century masonry towers of regional functional design.

3. Architecture and Materials

The tower is a single-storey cylindrical masonry structure, painted white, with a lantern and gallery. It stands 9 meters above base and has a focal plane height of 35 meters above mean sea level. The building has one level, constructed from locally quarried stone and lime mortar, typical for the period.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse features a group-flashing white light with a characteristic pattern of two flashes followed by one eclipse every 24 seconds. Its nominal range is 22 nautical miles, and it emits a white light. The seamark reference number is D 1562, and the light type is a major seamark.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The tower is closed to the public, but visitors can approach on foot via the coastal promenade from Suances center. Limited roadside parking is available near "Playa de la Concha" promenade. There are no on-site museum or visitor facilities.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

Panoramic vistas of the rugged Cantabrian coastline, with sandy beaches and rocky outcrops, can be enjoyed from the lighthouse's location. Nearby beaches include Playa de la Concha and Playa de los Locos. Coastal walking paths connect to Tablado and Tagle headlands.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

There is no specific folklore or anecdotes documented about this lighthouse. However, it is speculated that the original optical apparatus may have been a first-order Fresnel lens, replaced by modern sealed-beam units in later years. The lighthouse may have witnessed significant coastal shipwrecks in the late 19th century, though no specific incidents are recorded.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Port Authority of Santander under Spain's Dirección General de la Marina Mercante. It has been fully automated since the late 20th century and remains an active aid to navigation, charted on official Spanish charts.

9. Further Information

For further reading, consult the regional lighthouse guide "Faros de Cantabria" (in Spanish) or publications of the Spanish Navy Hydrographic Institute.