Name and Location

Santa Katalina itsasargia, also known as Faro Cabo de Santa Catalina or Santa Catalina Lighthouse, stands on a rocky headland at the eastern entrance to the fishing port of Lekeitio in the province of Bizkaia (Biscay), Basque Country, northern Spain. The address is Santa Katalina Ibilpidea, 65, 48280 Lekeitio, Bizkaia, Spain. The coordinates are 43°22′37.8″ N, 2°30′35.5″ W.

Construction and History

The construction date of the lighthouse is not documented. It is likely that it was built in the late 19th or early 20th century to improve navigation into Lekeitio's harbor. The architect or designer are unknown.

Architecture and Materials

The structure is a single cylindrical masonry tower rising directly from a square base, with whitewashed walls and a black lantern and gallery. The construction materials are local stone and concrete with a metal lantern.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse serves as a seamark type light_major and is currently an active aid to navigation under the Spanish maritime administration. It is fully automated and does not have AIS or radar facilities on site. The nautical chart references are likely charted on Spain's Instituto Hidrográfico de la Marina charts for the Cantabrian coast.

Accessibility and Visiting

The headland is freely accessible by foot along the "Camino de Santa Katalina," a short coastal path east from Lekeitio's old quarter. However, interior access to the lighthouse is closed to the public. Visitors can enjoy spectacular panoramas over the Cantabrian Sea, the town of Lekeitio, and the nearby island of San Nicolás.

Notable Views and Landscape

• The surrounding landscape offers historic Old Town of Lekeitio with the Gothic Church of San Nicolás de Bari (15th century), Isla de San Nicolás accessible at low tide, beaches Isuntza and Isuntza Zaharra (small coves nearby), and coastal hiking routes GR-E12 (Northern Way of the Camino de Santiago).

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen recount that during severe storms, the light at Santa Katalina guides small fishing boats safely around the jagged rocks of the headland.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the Ministerio de Fomento (via the Puertos del Estado network) and the local Port Authority of Bilbao. It has no official heritage listing but is regarded as part of regional maritime infrastructure. The technical details, such as height, range, and characteristic, are not publicly recorded.

Further Information

For further information, visit OpenStreetMap feature, Puertos del Estado (general info on Spanish lighthouses), Lekeitio tourism office, and Basque Coast hiking guide: "Camino de la Costa, Euskadi" (available in Spanish).