Name and Location

The San Antongo itsasargia (San Antongo Lighthouse) is an active coastal light located in Getaria, Basque Country, Spain. The lighthouse sits on a headland called San Antón above the fishing village of Getaria.

Construction and History

The date of construction and original lens order are not documented in available sources. The first recorded lighting of the lighthouse is unknown. Prior to automation, two keepers served multi-decade tenures, but their names are undocumented. The lighthouse was fully automated at an unspecified date.

Architecture and Materials

The structure is a cylindrical masonry tower painted white, attached to a one-storey keeper's house (now unoccupied). The tower stands 14 meters above ground level, while the focal height is 93 meters above mean sea level. The construction materials are local stone and concrete render.

Light and Navigation

The San Antongo itsasargia is a major coastal light with a characteristic of four white flashes every 15 seconds (Fl (4) W 15 s). The sequence is 0.4 light + 2.1 dark + 0.4 light + 2.1 dark + 0.4 light + 2.1 dark + 0.4 light + 7.1 dark. The range is 21 nautical miles. The admiralty number/reference is D 1489, and the NGA List of Lights reference is 12660.

Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can reach the headland of San Antón via a 20-minute footpath from the town center of Getaria. The trail passes the medieval hermitage of San Juan and offers panoramic views of the Cantabrian Coast. While visitors may roam the grounds around the tower, the lighthouse interior is not open for tours.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the lighthouse platform, visitors can see the waterfront and fishing port of Getaria, the vineyards of Txakoli rolling inland, and on clear days, the peaks of Aiako Harria to the east and the broader Bay of Biscay to the north. Nearby attractions include the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum and the medieval fortress of Getaria Castle.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse is colloquially known as San Antongo farola, reflecting the town's devotion to Saint Anthony. No confirmed records of major shipwrecks directly tied to its operation are available.

Technical and Operational Details

The managing authority is Puertos del Estado (Spanish State Ports) via the Port Authority of Pasaia. The current use is active lighthouse, with the keeper's quarters closed to the public.

Further Information

• Wikidata: Q12258462
• Spanish Wikipedia: es:Faro de Guetaria
• Puertos del Estado Light Lists
• Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals (NP 76)