Name and Location

Salous Lighthouse, also known as Faro de Salou or locally referred to as "Far de la Falconera," is an active coastal lighthouse located in Carrer de la Falconera, 8, just off the Ctra. del Far, in the municipality of Salou (Tarragon��s comarca), Catalonia, Spain.

2. Construction and History

The Salou Lighthouse was constructed in the mid-19th century, completed in 1858, under the direction of the Royal Directorate of Lighthouses (Dirección General de Obras Marítimas). The exact architect or designer is not recorded in surviving archives.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features a utilitarian neoclassical maritime style, with a cylindrical tower rising from a one-story keeper's house. The tower is built using local masonry ("blanco catalán") and painted white, with a single horizontal red band at the base.

4. Light and Navigation

The Salou Lighthouse emits two white flashes every 10 seconds (Fl(2) W 10s), with a range of roughly 17 nautical miles (31 km). The light is powered by a Fresnel lens, 2nd order (original), and modern PRB rotating apparatus. Maritime traffic in the Gulf is monitored by the Port Authority of Tarragona's shore stations.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are freely accessible, but the tower itself is closed to visitors. There are no on-site museum or visitor center facilities; however, benches and viewpoints near the cliff edge offer stunning views of the Mediterranean and surrounding landscape.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

Perched atop a low, pine-covered promontory, Salou Lighthouse commands panoramic views of the Mediterranean, Salou's shoreline, and, on clear days, the distant silhouette of Tarragona's port facilities. The surrounding environment is characterized by Aleppo pines, maritime shrubs, and rocky outcrops sheltering small coves.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen tell stories about a 19th-century keeper, nicknamed "El Maestro del Faro," who kept a log of every passing vessel in a leather-bound journal. According to folklore, his spirit still patrols the tower on stormy nights.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse has an automated operation system, converted from manual operation in the late 20th century, with no permanent radar or AIS installations on the tower.

9. Further Information

For more information, please visit the Wikipedia page (Spanish) at https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faro_de_Salou or the Port Authority of Tarragona's website at https://www.puertotarragona.com/en/.