Point of interest
Faro de Maspalomas
in Maspalomas (Gran Canaria), Spain
58 m lighthouse from 1890, now the anchor of the Meloneras seafront promenade, with a small exhibition centre.
Where it is
The lighthouse stands at the southernmost tip of Gran Canaria, on the Plaza del Faro in the Meloneras district, at the western end of the Maspalomas dune field.
What it is
The elegant stone tower is one of the island's most photographed landmarks and the focal point of the lively Boulevard El Faro promenade. The adjoining building houses the Centro Etnográfico Faro de Maspalomas, which presents the lighthouse's history and the traditional crafts of Gran Canaria.
History
Designed by engineer Juan de León y Castillo, the lighthouse was completed in 1889 and entered service on 1 February 1890. At 56 metres it is the tallest masonry lighthouse in the Canaries and was declared a Property of Cultural Interest by the Canary Islands government in 2005.