Far de Maó - Sant Carles

Far de Maó - Sant Carles stands on a cliff at the entrance to the port of Maó, right next to the small town of es Castell in Menorca. Its coordinates, 39.8896, 4.2642, mark the tip of Punta de Sant Carles — the point where ships heading into the island's capital get their first sight of a guiding light.

The story behind the lighthouse

The first lighthouse on this spot was lit on 20 March 1852, the same day as the light at Na Pòpia across the bay. It was designed by engineer Antonio López y Montalvo and fitted with a 6th-order catadioptric lens showing a fixed light. The site was chosen deliberately: it sat directly on the approach line into the port of Maó, one of the best-sheltered natural harbours in this part of the Mediterranean.

Trouble came when a nearby artillery battery started using the area for firing practice. The lighthouse building stood right in the line of fire, so it was eventually demolished. A new structure went up a little further along the cliff ledge — a concrete tower with a small technical building at its base. That is the lighthouse you see today.

What will you see?

The current tower rises 15 metres. At night it flashes a white light in a distinctive rhythm: three flashes, a pause, one more flash, another pause, repeating every 6 seconds, visible from up to 12 nautical miles out at sea. That rhythm is what lets sailors tell it apart from other lights along the Menorcan coast and recognise the entrance to Maó even in poor visibility.

The lighthouse itself sits on military land, so there's no access inside without special permission. What you can see from outside is the white tower set against the cliffs and open sea, with a clear view of ships moving in and out of the port of Maó — one of the longest natural harbours in Europe. The light is currently managed by the Balearic Islands Port Authority.

How do you get there?

The lighthouse lies within the boundaries of es Castell, a small port town right next to Maó. Es Castell itself is the best starting point: walking along the coast toward Punta de Sant Carles brings you close enough to the cliffs to see the lighthouse from a safe distance, without entering the restricted military area. The surrounding landscape is typical of Menorca's eastern coast — low cliffs, open sea views, and a natural path following the shoreline.

When is the best time to visit?

The lighthouse operates around the clock, all year, but the cliffs and sea views are at their best on a clear day — morning or late afternoon avoids the glare coming off the water. Spring and autumn offer a good balance between quiet surroundings and comfortable walking weather along the coast, while summer brings noticeably more visitors to es Castell and Maó nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the Far de Maó - Sant Carles lighthouse? No — the site sits on military land, and entering the building requires special authorisation. You can view it from the outside, from a safe distance.

Who manages the lighthouse? It is managed by the Balearic Islands Port Authority (Autoridad Portuaria de Balears).

How is today's lighthouse different from the original 1852 one? The original 1852 lighthouse was torn down because it stood in the line of fire of a nearby artillery battery. The current 15-metre concrete tower was built afterward on a different spot along the cliff ledge.

How do you recognise this lighthouse's signal at night? It shows a white light in a repeating pattern — three flashes, a pause, one more flash, another pause — completing every 6 seconds and visible from as far as 12 nautical miles away.