Name and Location

Gelidonya Feneri, also known as Cape Gelidonia Lighthouse, is a coastal light marking the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Its location is at Plus-code 6C95+MV, Kumluca/Antalya, Türkiye, with coordinates 36.2191852 N, 30.4096882 E.

2. Construction and History

The official construction date of Gelidonya Feneri is not recorded in available sources. Local lore associates the point with ancient shipwrecks and Lycian sailors, but firm historical data (architect or builder) is currently unavailable.

3. Architecture and Materials

Gelidonya Feneri has a minor aid light structure made of presumed masonry or reinforced concrete. The lighthouse appears painted white, with a fixed red lantern.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a flashing red beacon (Fl R 5 s) at an elevation of 36 meters above mean sea level. Its range is approximately 8 nautical miles. Automation is automatic, and the power source is likely solar or mains-connected via submarine cable.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can reach the lighthouse on foot via the Gelidonya Lighthouse Walking Trail, a roughly 10-kilometer one-way trek from the village of Hıdırşeyh (near the ancient site of Olympos). The trail offers scenic views of coastal pine forests, sea cliffs, and Lycian rock tombs. However, the lighthouse tower is fenced and not open to interior visits; external viewpoints only are available.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape features a panoramic view over the Mediterranean Sea and rocky headlands. Nearby sites include ancient city of Olympos (ruins and beach), Yanartaş (“Chimera”) eternal flames, and Adrasan Bay (swimming, diving). The area is home to coastal maquis, wild goats, and migratory seabirds.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

According to local legend, Gelidonya was once a pirate's haven; modern hikers sometimes find oil-lamp fragments on the shore. The name “Gelidonya” derives from Greek “Chelidonia,” meaning “swallow,” evoking migrating birds.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is an active aid to navigation, managed by the Directorate General of Coastal Safety (Demiryolu, Limanlar ve Hava Meydanları İnşaatı Genel Müdürlüğü). No AIS/Radar system is reported on site; nautical charts include British Admiralty Chart 512 (Mediterranean—Turkey) and Turkish Nav. Chart TNC 7.

9. Further Information

For further information, visit the OpenStreetMap feature, Google Maps, or the Turkish Coastal Safety Directorate. A suggested guidebook for trail and site descriptions is “Lighthouses of the Turkish Mediterranean” by Ahmet M. Ünlü (2020).