Name and Location

The Tarifa Lighthouse, also known as Faro de la Isla de Tarifa, is a major coastal beacon located at the southernmost point of mainland Spain, marking the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. It stands on a small islet just off the tip of Punta Marroquí, west of Tarifa town.

Location

• Address: C. Segismundo Moret, 1, 11380 Tarifa, Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain
• Coordinates: 36°00′04.17�� N, 5°36′34.48″ W (36.0011571, –5.609579)
• Map link: https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=36.0011571&mlon=-5.609579#map=17/36.00116/-5.60958
• Administrative: Municipality of Tarifa, Campo de Gibraltar comarca, Province of Cádiz, Andalusia

Construction and History

The Tarifa Lighthouse was constructed in the mid-19th century, although the exact year is not documented. It is likely that the lighthouse was designed under Spain's Dirección de Faros (then part of the Ministry of the Navy). The lighthouse has been listed in Spanish navigational records, but it does not have a formal "Bien de Interés Cultural" designation.

Architecture and Materials

The Tarifa Lighthouse is a cylindrical masonry tower with a gallery and lantern. It stands 33 meters above its base and has a focal height of 41 meters above mean sea level. The construction materials used are stone and brick, typical for 19th-century Spanish lighthouses. The appearance of the tower is unpainted or whitewashed, with a black railing on the lantern room.

Light and Navigation

The Tarifa Lighthouse emits a white light characteristic of three flashes every 10 seconds (Fl (3) W 10 s), with a range of 26 nautical miles. It also has a red sector with the same light characteristic, marking shoals off the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The lighthouse is automated and still active, integral to Spain's coastal navigation network.

Accessibility and Visiting

The islet and tower are not generally open to visitors, and there are no scheduled tours available. However, the best views of the lighthouse can be seen from Punta Marroquí, a narrow peninsula accessible by car or on foot from Tarifa town center. Photographers often capture the lighthouse at sunset with the Rif Mountains of Morocco on the horizon.

Notable Views and Landscape

Perched on a rocky outcrop with low scrub and jagged shoreline, the Tarifa Lighthouse commands panoramic views across the Strait of Gibraltar. On clear days, you can see the Moroccan coast (approximately 14 kilometers away), passing merchant and naval vessels, and the town of Tarifa to the east.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The Strait of Gibraltar has been one of the world's busiest sea lanes for centuries, with many shipwrecks lying in its waters. The lighthouse reportedly maintained operations throughout the Spanish Civil War, although keeper rotations were sometimes disrupted.

Technical and Operational Details

The managing authority is the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras. Nautical charts include Spanish Navy Hydrographic Institute chart 1411 and NGA 113. The lighthouse emits a racon (Morse code "C" on marine radar) and has a fog signal.

Further Information

• Wikidata: Q5856492
• Diario de Jerez article on Spanish coastal watchtowers (https://www.diariodejerez.es/article/provincia/1067601/una/torre/almenara/llena/tecnologia.html)