Lanterna – Lighthouse Lovers

The Torre della Laterna is a real icon of the wonderful city of Genoa. It’s the tallest lighthouse in the Mediterranean at an impressive 77 metres high! There are 365 steps all the way up to the top, but the 172 steps leading up to the first panoramic terrace are a real workout. Luckily, visitors are not allowed to go any higher! Built in 1543, the Laterna is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world still in use.

I have visited this place in October 2024.

Facts & figures

The Torre della Lanterna (affectionately known simply as Lanterna for short) at the harbour of Genoa looks rather small among the huge harbour cranes and oversized cruise ships. Nevertheless, it can boast a few height records. At 77 metres (253 ft), it is the tallest lighthouse in the Mediterranean and the second tallest lighthouse in Europe after the one on Ile Vierge (Virgin Island) off the north coast of Brittany in France.

The lighthouse stands on a 40 metre high rock and consists of two stone blocks. It has a total height of 117 metres (383 ft.) above sea level. There are two 360-degree panoramic terraces. The first, which is open to the public, can be reached via 172 steps. There are 365 steps to the top. Thank goodness you don’t have to take those 193 extra steps! In the middle of the tower, a lift takes you all the way up. However, this is reserved for the staff who operate the lighthouse.

The earliest traces of the Genoese Lanterna date back to 1128. The current lighthouse, which replaces earlier structures, dates from 1543, making the Laterna one of the oldest lighthouses still in use in the world. It is thought to be second only to the Tower of Hercules in La Coruna, Spain, which dates from Roman times.

The lighthouse is still manned and is operated by the Comando di Zona Fari of the Italian Navy, based in La Spezia. Since 1910, the Navy has operated all the lighthouses along the along the 8,000 kilometres of Italian coastline, 128 of which are large lighthouses.

Three incredible facts about the Lanterna you might not know!

What do Genoa’s two football clubs, Christopher Columbus and street art have to do with the magnificent Lanterna? We’re thrilled to reveal three fascinating facts about the city’s iconic landmark that not everyone knows!

Derby della Lanterna (Derby of the Lighthouse)

Named after Genoa's most iconic landmark, the derby between the city rivals is the oldest in Italian football. The fixture has been played between Genoa CFC and U.C. Sampdoria (Andrea Doria until 1946) since 1902. Genoa is the oldest football club in Italy, founded in 1893. In 1946, Sampdoria was formed by the merger of the two clubs, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria. Sampdoria have dominated the competition, winning 42 of their 108 matches, while Genoa have only managed to secure victory in 26. 40 games ended in a draw (based on data from 25 September 2024).
Source: Wikipedia (accessed on
3 November 2024).

Uncle and nephew: The lighthouse keeper and the navigator

Cristoforo Colombo was born in Genoa in 1451. His uncle Antonio was one of the lighthouse keepers of the Lanterna. Columbus' father was a wool weaver. He grew up in a small house in Via di Porta Soprana (see picture above). As is known today, he had no desire to set sail for America. He had a much more ambitious plan: to find a western sea route to East Asia. The discovery of America on 12 October 1492 was based on a major misunderstanding. Columbus believed until his death that he had found a way to Asia. As his plans for colonisation on behalf of the Spanish Crown failed, he was returned to Spain in chains in 1500. He died an unhonoured man in Valladolid in 1506, at the age of around 55. Finally, it was the Portuguese Vasco da Gama who succeeded in finding the sea route around Africa to Asia in 1498. The land discovered by Columbus was named after another Italian in 1507: Amerigo Vespucci.

Street Art in Genoa: The Lighthouse as bottle opener

streetartcities.com lists around 80 amazing masterpieces on its map of Genoa's incredibly vibrant street art scene! I'm sure there are many more! There are so many unnamed artists creating stunning graffiti on the walls and buildings of this bustling metropolis, not to mention the works by well-known street artists that have been commissioned for the city. The steel pillars under the Sopraelevata Aldo Moro, the five-kilometre-long elevated urban motorway along the port of Genoa, are absolutely covered in an impressive amount of graffiti! And there's even a work by one of these unknown artists on the shutter of a shop in the Stradone di Sant'Agostino in the historic centre! The Torre della Laterna is depicted as a 'Tirabüsciòn' (= corkscrew), which is a wonderful nod to the city's unique dialect. In fact, the shape of the Genoa lighthouse somewhat resembles a corkscrew, which adds to its allure. Who knows what is hidden behind the closed shop, but the street art image shows the Genoese people's love for their marvellous landmark.

natural beauty spot

The Torre della Lanterna (affectionately known simply as Lanterna for short) at the harbour of Genoa looks rather small among the huge harbour cranes and oversized cruise ships.

Please don’t disturb the guillemots!

To protect the guillemot colony, an ‘Area of Special Protection’ has been put in place for the small marine area at Berry Head. This means that water vessels and users are not allowed to enter the cove during the guillemots breeding season (March – July).

Within the UK guillemot numbers have decreased. The guillemots lay only a single egg in a season. If they have to take flight when disturbed they waste valuable energy and have to leave their egg or chick vulnerable to predators. So please take extra care when exploring the coastline and don’t disturb the birds!

For more information about the guillemot colony at Berry Head and to view the map of the ‚Area of Special Protection‘ please visit the site of the Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust.