Faro de Canet

Faro de Canet is a lighthouse in Canet d'en Berenguer, a small coastal municipality in the Valencian Community, just a few kilometers north of Puerto de Sagunto. It stands as one of the recognizable landmarks along the coast between Valencia and Sagunto and makes for a natural stop on any walk along the shoreline.

Where did this lighthouse come from?

The story begins in 1881, when a Royal Order called for a study into building it. The actual project was drafted in 1883 by Agustín Ruiz, an engineer with the lighthouse service of the province of Valencia. Construction, however, did not start until 1900, and the lighthouse finally came into service in 1904, as part of Spain's broader 1902 coastal lighting plan. For its first years it ran on oil; electrification came only in 1922, when a filament bulb and a generator were installed.

One notable chapter in its history dates to the Spanish Civil War. On October 24, 1936, the light was switched off to protect the structure from damage, and the building was repurposed for a time as an observation post and telephone exchange.

What will you see there?

The lighthouse is a stone tower shaped like a truncated cone, roughly 30 meters tall, rising from an octagonal ashlar base. The tower connects to a small, single-story building through an internal courtyard. Its pale, distinctive silhouette stands out against the surrounding greenery and is visible from a good distance along the beach.

One of its most unusual features is its position: the lighthouse sits about 360 meters inland from the shoreline rather than right at the water's edge, as most lighthouses do. The reason was practical — the ground near the beach was too soft and unstable, so the builders had to move the foundations further back to firmer soil. Because of this, Faro de Canet is often mentioned as one of the lighthouses set furthest from the sea anywhere in the Valencian Community, an unusual detail for a structure whose whole purpose is to be seen from the water.

Today the lighthouse belongs to the Port Authority of Valencia and is listed in Canet d'en Berenguer's local urban plan (PGOU) as a Site of Local Relevance, a status that reflects its importance to the town's history.

How do you get there, and when should you go?

Canet d'en Berenguer sits on the Valencian coast right next to Puerto de Sagunto, reachable via local roads and the seafront promenade. The easiest way to see the lighthouse is on foot or by bike along the beachfront path — it is clearly visible from the surrounding trails and works as a natural landmark for anyone exploring the coast between Valencia and Sagunto.

Quieter hours of the day tend to be the best time to visit, when the light brings out the pale stone of the tower against the greenery around it. The lighthouse remains an active part of Spain's maritime lighting network, so visits are generally limited to viewing it from the outside and taking in the architecture and setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is the Canet d'en Berenguer lighthouse? The project dates back to the 1880s, construction began in 1900, and the lighthouse entered service in 1904.

Why is the lighthouse so far from the sea? Unstable ground near the beach forced builders to move the foundations about 360 meters inland, onto firmer soil.

Can visitors go inside the lighthouse? It remains part of the active maritime lighting system managed by the Port of Valencia, so access is mainly limited to viewing it from the outside.

What makes this lighthouse unusual? Its octagonal stone base and its unusually inland position — among the furthest-from-the-sea lighthouses in the region — set it apart from typical coastal lighthouses.