Molo Margherita Lighthouse

Molo Margherita Lighthouse, known locally as the Faro Rosso (Red Lighthouse), is a small navigational lighthouse standing at the tip of the eastern harbour pier in Monopoli, in Italy's Apulia region. Together with its twin, the Faro Verde (Green Lighthouse) on the opposite side of the harbour entrance, it guides fishing boats and yachts safely into the old port.

How do you get to Molo Margherita?

The lighthouse sits right next to Monopoli's old town (centro storico), close to Cala Porta Vecchia, the small inlet where local fishing boats traditionally moor. The easiest way to reach it is on foot from the old town, following the harbourfront promenade toward the port. Molo Margherita is one of the two piers enclosing the harbour mouth, and you can walk its full length out to the lighthouse itself, with views back over the town and out to sea along the way.

What will you see there?

The Faro Rosso is a low, hexagonal tower roughly 15 metres tall, painted in distinctive white and red bands. It has marked the entrance to Monopoli's port since 1878 and remains an active navigational aid today. Walking the pier is one of the most enjoyable short strolls in Monopoli: on one side the old town's tightly packed rooftops crowd around the harbour, on the other the open Adriatic stretches out. Photographers are especially drawn here at sunset, when the warm light plays off the red tower.

It's also worth looking across the harbour mouth to the second lighthouse, the Faro Verde. A red lighthouse paired with a green one is a standard port-marking convention used in many Italian harbours, but in Monopoli the two towers have become a recognisable part of the town's silhouette.

When is the best time to visit?

The pier and lighthouse are accessible year-round, and the walk itself is free, with no booking required. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions, with milder temperatures than the height of summer and fewer people on the pier. In summer the harbour is at its liveliest, packed with fishing and pleasure boats, and the waterfront fills with locals and visitors in the evenings looking for a sea breeze. Sunset is the best time of day to see the lighthouse at its most photogenic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it free to walk out onto the pier? Yes. Molo Margherita is part of the public harbour infrastructure, and walking along it costs nothing.

Is the lighthouse open to visitors inside? No. It functions as an active navigational light for the port rather than a tourist attraction, so it's viewed from the pier rather than entered.

Why is it called the Faro Rosso? The name comes from its distinctive red colour, which distinguishes it from its twin, the green Faro Verde, on the other side of the harbour entrance — a standard way of marking the two sides of a port channel.

Can I combine it with a visit to the old town? Yes. The pier is right next to Monopoli's centro storico and Cala Porta Vecchia, so the walk out to the lighthouse fits naturally into a stroll around the old town and waterfront.