Fisterra´s Lighthouse

It was built in 1853, 138 m. over the sea level, shields one of the most dangerous coasts.

Location

It is the most Europe western and emblematic lighthouse, traditionally considered as the end of the world cape, "Finis Terrae".

This point comes over the sea 5 kms southward, parallel to the granite Pindo´s Mountain forming the sheltered and beautiful Corcubión estuary.

During thousands of years was thought that each night the sun put out at its waters, and beyond just existed a region of utter darkness and monsters.

Architecture

This building takes part of an interesting whole of lighthouses architecture.

It’s a work of the engineer Félix Uhagón and it has the rank of first class lighthouse.

The tower, built on stone-cutting, has octagonal base and finishes with a cornice over which it is rested the balconies. On top is the vault with a polygonal lantern, 138 meters over the sea level.

In the beginning worked with an oil lamp, after several reforms it was electrified with glowing lamps, sending out a gleam each five seconds with a range for normal weather of 31 sea miles (57 km).

The building annex to the lighthouse is the fog-horn popularly known as the Fisterra cow. Ángel García del Hoyo work beginning to operate on1889 to be used on the days when the fog impeded to watch the lighthouse light. It sends forth two shrill sounds each minute, with a range of 25 miles (46 km) on mean weather.

The third building which constructed the architectonic conjunct is the Traffic light, located higher than the lighthouse itself. Date don 1879 and its original task was to emit signals to the Army. Nowadays, this building, rehabilitate by César Portela, is a rural tourism inn.

Legend

There are authors who identify Fisterra Cape with the ancient nerio promontory, many others located this place in the Ara Solis, where was practiced the Sun worship. There are near this place a range of stones tied to legends of religious kind: holy stones, wine stained stones, the chair of stone, Orcabella grave, etc.

As for the classic chronicler Lucio Floro, Décimo Junio Bruto, on 137 b.C., arrived to this promontory and he didn’t left without watch how the Sun subsided in the sea hissing as a hot red iron introduced in the water.

O Centulo

From this emblematic lighthouse we can watch the Centolo, former knows as Centulo (devil), where sum fewer ships as Captain, Blas de Lezo, and Bitten, among many others were wrecked. It’s 700 meters from the shore and it’s 25 meters high over the sea level. Besides you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views from the shore and the most impressive sun sets. Surroundings of this rock, which imitate the crustaceous shell which name uses, are zones of hard work for the littoral sailors.