Name and Location

Punta Candieira Lighthouse is an active coastal lighthouse located on the Atlantic coast of Galicia, in the municipality of Cedeira (province of A Coruña), Spain. Its coordinates are 43°42′38.96″ N, 8°02′49.62″ W (WGS 84). The address is Lugar Vilar, 1, 15347 Cedeira, A Coruña, Spain.

2. Construction and History

Although the precise construction date of Punta Candieira Lighthouse is not recorded, many Galician coast lights date from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It is likely that this lighthouse was constructed during the same period. The official name of the lighthouse is Faro de Punta Candieira.

3. Architecture and Materials

The architecture style of Punta Candieira Lighthouse is unknown, but it follows a typical functional "white tower" design of the Spanish lighthouse service (Comisión de Faros). The materials used are likely reinforced concrete for the tower, painted white, and corrosion-resistant metal for the lantern and gallery.

4. Light and Navigation

Punta Candieira Lighthouse is a major coastal light with a group-flashing white signal: three flashes + one flash every 24 seconds (Fl(3+1) W 24 s). The range of the light is 21 nautical miles, and it is managed by the Port Authority of Ferrol-San Cibrao under the Spanish "Autoridad Portuaria" system.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The site road and tower exterior are freely accessible on foot or by 4x4. However, the lantern room is closed to the public. To reach the lighthouse, follow CP-2203 north from Cedeira town center (approximately 8 km), park at the gated entrance, and walk about 200 meters to the cliff-top.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

From the lantern gallery, one can enjoy panoramic views of the rocky coastline, nearby coves, and distant offshore islets on clear days. The immediate landscape is characterized by heather, gorse, and low maritime scrub.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

In Galician maritime folklore, the rugged Costa Ártabra (of which Punta Candieira is part) is said to be home to sea spirits and "meigas" (witch-like figures). Some older fishermen claim to have seen "ghost lights" dancing offshore on stormy nights – though these are unverified.

8. Technical and Operational Details

Punta Candieira Lighthouse is fully automated, with no resident keeper. It does not have AIS or radar installation at the tower itself; shipping lanes may be monitored by nearby port-authority radar stations.

9. Further Information

For more information on Galician lighthouses, visit the Galician Lighthouse Society website (www.farogalicia.org) for regional light-station archives.