Faro de Brantuas

Faro de Brantuas stands above Ponteceso, on the wild shores of Galicia's Costa da Morte.

Despite its name, Faro de Brantuas is not a working lighthouse. It's a concrete monument-tower crowning Monte do Faro, a 231-metre summit whose name recalls its older role as a coastal watch point – a place where warning fires were once lit for sailors and villagers along this stretch of coast, long before the tower itself existed.

The tower dates to the 1950s: built in 1954 and inaugurated in 1959, the roughly 39–40 metre concrete monolith is topped with a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was funded by Ricardo Pose Ourense, an emigrant from the local parish of San Xián de Brantuas who, after years spent in South America, chose to mark his return by commissioning this landmark for his home village.

Beside the tower sits a small chapel, the Capela da Virxe do Faro (Nosa Señora do Faro). The date 1731 is carved on its façade, though the site's religious roots go back further. The chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of the Faro, patroness and protector of sailors, and every September 8 it draws large crowds for its annual pilgrimage.

How do you get there?

Monte do Faro sits within the municipality of Ponteceso, on the Costa da Morte, roughly an hour's drive from Santiago de Compostela. Local roads climb toward the summit, where a parking area near the top leaves just a short walk to the tower and chapel.

What will you see?

The main draw is climbing the tower itself: a narrow, tightly spiralling staircase of 133 steps leads up through the monolith. Small windows near the top, at around 39 metres, open onto views over the valley, the Costa da Morte coastline, and the mouth of the Rías de Corme e Laxe. Visitors uneasy with heights should know the tower gently sways in strong wind – a well-documented quirk of the structure, startling but not dangerous. Down at ground level, the chapel and the open hilltop itself are worth a slow look, and the summit is a popular stop for local walking routes.

When should you visit?

Calm, clear days give the best views, since the Costa da Morte is known for strong winds that can make the climb feel more dramatic and amplify the tower's characteristic sway. If timing allows, September 8 brings the annual pilgrimage to Nosa Señora do Faro, when parishioners from the surrounding area gather at the summit for the festival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Faro de Brantuas an actual lighthouse? No. Despite the name, it's a monument-tower dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built in the 1950s. The "faro" name refers to the hill's earlier role as a coastal lookout point, not to any navigational light.

How many steps are there to the top? The tower's interior spiral staircase has 133 narrow steps, reaching a height of about 39 metres.

Who paid for the tower's construction? It was funded by Ricardo Pose Ourense, an emigrant born in the parish of San Xián de Brantuas who returned from South America and financed the monument for his home village.

Is there anything else to see near the tower? Yes – the Capela da Virxe do Faro (Nosa Señora do Faro) stands right beside it, a chapel dedicated to the protector of sailors, with an annual pilgrimage held every September 8.