Faro di Portofino

At the seaward tip of the Portofino promontory, a masonry lighthouse rises beside its former keeper's house above the Mediterranean. Built in 1870, the tower remains an active maritime signal managed by the Italian Navy.

Why it matters

The lighthouse marks the outer edge of the Portofino headland and continues to serve vessels along this stretch of coast. Its enduring function connects nineteenth-century maritime infrastructure with the protected landscape of the promontory.

What to notice

The lighthouse is a 12-metre pyramidal masonry tower attached to a two-storey white building. Its light flashes white every five seconds and is visible up to 16 nautical miles. The tower's position at the edge of the headland gives it a clear relationship to the surrounding sea and coastline.

Context and history

The Comune di Portofino dates the lighthouse to 1870. It was later automated and is managed by the Marina Militare, with entry reserved to qualified personnel. The current signal was activated in 1991. Set within Portofino's protected headland, the lighthouse forms part of a landscape where the built village, historic routes and steep coastal terrain meet.