The San Giacomo lighthouse is the lighthouse of the port of Licata, on the Strait of Sicily: it stands at the root of the east quay of the commercial harbour. It takes its name from the castle of San Giacomo, which stood on this spot and was demolished to make room for the port. It was built in 1895 to a design by Antonino Davanteri and is still in operation.
What to see
It is a cylindrical tower 37 metres high, with gallery and lantern, rising from a double four-sided base faced with basalt blocks with white trim. The tower and lantern are white; the dome of the lantern is metallic grey. Inside, a spiral staircase of 129 steps, lit by five aligned windows, leads to the lantern.
The light is 40 metres above sea level and gives one white flash every five seconds, visible up to 25 nautical miles.
Visiting
The lighthouse is fully automated and run by the Italian Navy: it is seen from outside, from the port area, and any visit should be checked.
Our editors' tip
To understand the name you have to think of what this spot was like before the port: there was a castle, San Giacomo, sacrificed to the building of the harbour. On the hill above the port there remains instead Licata's other fortress, Castel Sant'Angelo.
