The Lighthouse Route is just another of Formentera’s attractions that make it the perfect island for a visit at any time of the year.

Where land and sea merge

The influence of the sea in a tiny island like Formentera is clear. And what better way to experience this than by discovering its lighthouses, which were crucial to sailors in the past and are still useful today, and to admire the sight of their silhouettes at dawn or dusk in some amazing locations.

In fact, the Lighthouse Route has been awarded the Nit del Turisme 2021 in recognition of an experience that not only connects with people but also highlights local resources, always in a spirit of sustainability and quality in every sense.

La Savina Lighthouse

A landmark in the port of La Savina

The Talaiotic remains in Formentera lead us to conjecture that this little island was in connection with the outside world even in prehistoric times. The port of La Savina was sheltered from storms and rapidly became a commercial port for the salt trade.

With the increase in passengers and traders, in 1926 the La Savina lighthouse was inaugurated, an important landmark in the port designed to help seafarers in the area by signalling the port entrance.

La Savina Lighthouse

La Savina lighthouse welcomes visitors

This modest but unusual lighthouse is found in the port of La Savina and is situated close to Estany de Peix. Its carefully tended surroundings include a walkway for direct access which takes you right to the door, so you can enjoy a pleasant stroll along it.

Although you cannot actually enter the lighthouse, you can still enjoy the sight of a magnificent sunset with the distant outline of Ibiza and the islet of Es Vedrá perfectly visible on a clear day.

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La Mola Lighthouse

The most magical place on the island

This is one of the most spectacular points of the whole island. The lighthouse perches on the edge of a cliff, 120 metres above sea level, on La Mola plain which is also where Sa Talaïassa, the highest point of the island, can be found, at 192 metres above sea level. One of the most striking attributes of this place is its views of the Mediterranean Sea, which are truly impressive. One of the best times to really enjoy the natural surroundings is at sunset.

La Mola lighthouse is an extremely valuable part of local heritage, as it is one of the few examples in Formentera of architecture and civil technology from the second half of the 19th century, and a significant emblem of both island culture and the local landscape, and as a result, the government of Formentera has guaranteed its protection and conservation.

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La Mola Lighthouse

160 years lighting up the southernmost part of the Balearics

In 1847 during the reign of Isabella II of Spain, the Lighthouse of La Mola was commissioned, although construction did not begin until 25 August 1860, and on 30 November 1861, it officially began operating. La Mola lighthouse was designed by the engineer Emili Poy i Bonet, who also designed other lighthouses in the Pityusic Islands. A century and a half later, the 12 beams of light that the original hand-crafted lamp emitted for this minor lighthouse continue to attract, not only the vessels that pass beneath the cliffs of eastern Formentera, but also thousands of tourists who visit this monument which has been declared a Cultural Interest Site.

The lighthouse rises 142 metres above sea level, with the white tower measuring 22 metres. The beam extends 23 nautical miles out to sea, flashing every five seconds.

La Mola Lighthouse

From an ancient lighthouse to a unique cultural space

In 2019, the ground floor and the façade were extensively refurbished and renovated. The idea behind this restoration of the lighthouse was to create a visitors’ centre that covers all the Formentera lighthouses, featuring a permanent exhibition with one of the main themes being the Formentera islanders’ relationship with the sea throughout history. In addition, the lighthouse provides the perfect multi-function venue for cultural events such as concerts and theatre productions. The exterior has been renovated for outdoor cultural and educational activities.

Opening hours in summer are from 11 am to 2 pm Tuesday to Sunday, and on Wednesdays and Sundays from 5 pm to 9 pm. Closed on Mondays. From 15 October, the lighthouse is open from 10 am to 2 pm from Tuesday to Saturday and closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.

La Mola Lighthouse

Jules Verne's love for la Mola lighthouse

Jules Verne was profoundly impressed and captivated by Formentera and by its shape in particular, although he never visited the island in person. Flat, and with a slope that rises to the cliffs of la Mola, he thought that the island resembled a ramp for “launching vessels of every kind”. Verne himself spoke of the lighthouse as “a place from where you could measure the world.”

A commemorative plaque, close by the lighthouse, recalls that the writer made it the site for the action of his novel ‘Off on a Comet’ and it may well have also inspired his novel ”The Lighthouse at the End of the World”.

Es Cap de Barbaria Lighthouse

Iconic image of Formentera

Es Cap de Barbaria lighthouse stands on the rocky heights at the southernmost tip of the island, and in fact the most southerly point of the Balearic Islands, as it is the geographical location closest to the African coast. The Cap de Barbaria lighthouse overlooks the impressive vertical cliff face, 100 metres above the sea. The lighthouse began operating in 1971, although building was planned as far back as 1924. A little over 17 metres high, it has a diameter of 3 metres, and it was designed to serve as a maritime signalling edifice.

To reach the lighthouse, visitors must scale the hill of Puig d’en Guillem crossing through a wooded area until they reach a half-moon shaped stretch of terrain with scant vegetation. And there, at the end of the path, the silhouette of the lighthouse rises having the sea as its backdrop.

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Es Cap de Barbaria Lighthouse

The surroundings

The vegetation in the area is arid and sparse, able to withstand the fierce winds that batter the cliffs. There are two other places worth visiting near the lighthouse: La Cova Foradada, a cave that leads to a rather special lookout point. To access this cave, you will need to enter through what looks like the eye of a needle. We recommend that you take extra care when visiting this spot.

Another interesting place to visit in this area can be found around 150 metres to the west, namely the Garroveret Tower. It is one of the defence towers dotted along the Pityusic coastline, which were first built in the 18th century for the purpose of keeping a look out for Saracen pirate ships. To alert the populace when one of these ships was sighted, the lookout used a special code of smoke signals that they sent out from the towers.

Of added interest in this area are the vestiges of megalithic remains in the vicinity of the lighthouse which date back 3800 years.

Es Cap de Barbaria Lighthouse

A memorable sunset

From this magical place you can view one of the very best sunsets in the Mediterranean. The purity of the sky and the breeze that wafts straight from the sea create a light that reflects on the water and the sky in a very special way. On clear days, and given the altitude of Cap de Barbaria, you can make out some mountains on the horizon beyond the sea, which is in fact the Spanish peninsula that you can see, almost 100 kilometres away.

The image of what seems a desert landscape, a narrow road, the distant lighthouse set in the midst of the sea’s blueness as backdrop, are all elements that combine to create a collective cinematic scenario. The view of the lighthouse in this photograph was captured by Julio Medem in the film ‘Sex and Lucia’ and it is in fact Es Cap de Barbaria, the southwestern point of the island.

Es Cap de Barbaria Lighthouse

Regulated vehicle access

Es Cap de Barbaria lighthouse is not open to the public, however you can visit the surroundings. As the little road to the lighthouse can get really busy at times, access to motor vehicles is restricted in the summer season. From 15 May to 15 October, the road is closed from the point of the car park at kilometre 6.5. This means that cars and motorbikes cannot go beyond the remaining 2.5 km that leads to the lighthouse.

The restrictions are applicable from 11 am to 1 pm and from 6 pm to 10 pm from Monday to Sunday. During these times, people can only visit on foot, by bicycle or in vehicles for those with reduced mobility. That way you can enjoy a walk along a path surrounded by nature, and it takes no longer than 15 minutes to reach the lighthouse.