Torre Grande Lighthouse

Lighthouse

39°54′24″N 8°30′58″E / 39.906639°N 8.516222°E / 39.906639; 8.516222TowerConstructed1542Foundationstone baseConstructionstone towerHeight16 metres (52 ft)Shapemassive cylindrical tower with lantern atop the roofMarkingsunpainted stone tower, white lanternPower sourcemains electricity

OperatorCoastal and Marine Geomorphology Group and Marina Militare^[1]^[2]HeritageItalian national heritage

Fog signalnoLightFocal height18 metres (59 ft)LensType TDRange8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi)CharacteristicFl R 5s.Italy no.1394 E.F.

Torre Grande Lighthouse (Italian: Faro di Torre Grande) is an active lighthouse located atop a coastal tower on the sea front of Marina di Torre Grande, Sardinia on the Sea of Sardinia.

Description

The construction of the massive tower began in 1542 by the Spaniards on order of Charles V and is considered the largest coastal defensive tower in Sardinia. The tower has a diameter of over 20 metres (66 ft) and it develops on two levels reaching 16 metres (52 ft) in height; the construction went slowly and was completed in 1555. In the 19th century a lantern was placed on the roof of the tower and was built a keeper's house.^[3]

The tower is unpainted stone and the lantern is placed inside a room and shown thorough a bay window. The light is positioned at 18 metres (59 ft) above sea level and emits one red flash in a 5 seconds period visible up to a distance of 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi). The light is completely automated and managed by the Marina Militare with the identification code number 1394 E.F.; the building is managed by the City of Oristano which transformed it into the Museum of Coastal Towers.^[2]^[4]

References

^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Italy: Northern Sardinia (Sardegna)". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Punta Sardegna". Marina Militare. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
^ "Torre Grande". Città di Oristano. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
^ "La Torre spagnola passa al Comune". La Nuova Sardegna. Retrieved March 29, 2018.