CHIPIONA LIGHTHOUSE

Description

Chipiona can boast to having the tallest lighthouse in Spain, rising nearly 70m high. It was built by Catalonian civil engineer Jaime Font y Escolá between 1863 and 1867. It is a landfall lighthouse and serves as a reference point for vessels sailing towards Seville through the Guadalquivir River.

The lighthouse has a range of 25 nautical miles and flashes every 10 seconds. The tower, inspired by the Roman commemorative towers, was built with piedra ostionera (a sedimentary rock formed by eroded seashells). After climbing its 322 steps, you reach the lantern which leads to an outdoor gallery offering a fantastic 360º view over a large area of both land and sea.

The control centre, which ensures the proper functioning of the lighthouse, is located on the ground floor and serves to relay the buoyage data from Chipiona to Seville, as well being home to the lighthouse keeper.

The lighthouse of Chipiona has pertained to the Port Authority of Seville since 1 January 1993 (previously pertaining to Cádiz), date on which the new Spanish Law of National Ports and Merchant Marine came into force.

Services

• Guided visits

• Permanent exhibition on the ground floor which includes informative panels about the maritime signalling system, the waterway, the activity of the Port of Seville and the lighthouse itself