Name and Location

The Punta Almina Lighthouse, also known as "Faro de Ceuta," stands at the eastern tip of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, overlooking the narrowest stretch of the Strait of Gibraltar. Its address is Mirador San Antonio, 59, 51005 Ceuta, Spain. The geographic coordinates are 35°53′53″ N, 5°16′51″ W (lat 35.8982803, lon –5.2808504).

Construction and History

The Punta Almina Lighthouse was first established in the mid-19th century, with construction commencing around 1851 and service entry around 1855. It has played a crucial role in guiding ships into the harbor of Ceuta and marking the eastern entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The lighthouse became fully automated in the late 20th century (circa 1980s–1990s), ending the era of resident keepers.

Architecture and Materials

The Punta Almina Lighthouse is a cylindrical masonry tower with a gallery and lantern, constructed using local stone and brick, rendered and painted white. The tower stands approximately 16 meters above its base and has a focal height of around 57 meters above sea level.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits two white flashes every 10 seconds (Fl(2) W 10s), with a nominal range of 18 nautical miles (≈33 km). The light is powered by modern rotating optics with a metal halide or LED source, installed during the late-20th-century refurbishment.

Accessibility and Visiting

The exterior terrace (Mirador San Antonio) is publicly accessible by car or on foot via a short drive from Ceuta city center. However, the interior of the lighthouse remains closed to the public. There are no visitor facilities or guided tours available.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the base of the lighthouse, you can look east toward the Moroccan coast and west across the narrowest section of the Strait. The rocky headland is dotted with low Mediterranean scrub, offering clear sightlines for both shipping lanes and leisure visitors.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local folklore tells the story of "El Guardián de Almina," a ghostly light believed to be the spirit of a former keeper seen on stormy nights. This unverified legend is shared among fishing boats in the area.

Technical and Operational Details

The Punta Almina Lighthouse is managed by Puertos del Estado (Spain's State Ports Authority), with an Admiralty number of D1504 (UK Hydrographic Office) and a NGA list number of 1134 (U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency). The lighthouse does not have an AIS beacon or radar installed on the tower itself, but nearby coastal stations cover VHF and AIS traffic monitoring.

Further Information

For further information, please consult the "Lista de Faros Españoles" by Puertos del Estado (https://www.puertos.es), UKHO Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals Volume E (2023), NGA List of Lights, Radio Aids, and Fog Signals, Pub 113 (2023), or the Spanish-language Wikipedia article "Faro de Punta Almina."