Name and Location

La Farola del Mar (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is a 19th-century harbour lighthouse located on the eastern breakwater of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Its address is Eastern mole (dique este), Port of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (island of Tenerife), Canary Islands, Spain. The coordinates are 28°28′09″N, 16°14′45″W.

Construction and History

La Farola del Mar was commissioned in late 1863 and decommissioned in 1954, guiding vessels into the busy port before being replaced by modern aids to navigation. It was built during a period of expanding maritime trade in the Canary Islands, when Santa Cruz was becoming a key coaling and provisioning station for trans-Atlantic shipping.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features a simple cylindrical tower on a square base made from local volcanic stone and lime mortar, originally painted white with a contrasting lantern housing. The height and focal plane of the structure are not recorded.

Light and Navigation

During its operational period, La Farola del Mar likely had a multi-wick oil lamp with a fixed Fresnel lens (common mid-19th century technology). Its range was likely 8–10 nautical miles, typical for harbour lights of the era. The light characteristic is not documented.

Accessibility and Visiting

The breakwater is open to pedestrians when weather permits, but access to the interior of the lantern tower is not allowed. Visitors can reach the site by walking east along Av. Francisco La Roche toward the Avenida Marítima; follow signage to “Dique Este” (approximately 20 minutes on foot). There are no visitor center or facilities on site.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse stands at the tip of the eastern mole, with panoramic views across Santa Cruz Bay, the urban skyline to the west, and Mount Teide in the distance. Nearby attractions include Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre, Castillo de San Juan Bautista (Black Castle), and a maritime promenade.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Although few written records survive of keepers or specific incidents, older residents recall families of light-keepers living on the mole – children attending school by ferry in the early 20th century. Local enthusiasts sometimes organize small guided walks to share these stories.

Technical and Operational Details

• Certain technical details (tower height, focal height, precise optic data) are not documented in publicly available sources and would require archival research or on-site measurement.

Further Information

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_farola_del_mar_(Santa_Cruz_de_Tenerife)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_farola_del_mar_(_Santa_Cruz_de_Tenerife).jpg

Cabildo de Tenerife, “Patrimonio arquitectónico del Puerto de Santa Cruz,” 2010.

J.M. de la Torre, Historia de los faros canarios (1958).

Puertos del Estado, “Catálogo Nacional de Faros,” Madrid, 2001.