Lighthouse of Monemvasia

The Lighthouse of Monemvasia is located on the eastern tip of the homonymous peninsula, north of the old town of Monemvasia, at a distance of 600 metres from the entrance of the castle (at Lipsonas). The peninsula of Monemvasia has been characterised as a historical place of exceptional beauty. The lighthouse building complex was built in 1896, while on December 27th of the same year, the first lighthouse keeper was installed. The lighthouse was lit on January 13th, 1897. During World War II, the lighthouse remained closed due to the damage it suffered. It reopened in 1945, while in 1951, the luminaire was transferred to a metal structure next to the old lighthouse building. The renovated and restored lighthouse of Monemvasia in 2011 was designated a protected monument.

The building complex of the lighthouse includes the old stone house of the lighthouse keeper, accompanied by the lighthouse tower, smaller auxiliary buildings in its northeast corner, as well as smaller structures around the house (cistern and stone oven). Later, three more buildings were erected west of the old lighthouse building. The height of the square stone tower reaches 7 metres, and its focal height is 17 metres. Access to the lighthouse is through a passage that connects the Laconian coast with the rock.

The building complex is characterised by military austerity and simplicity. Its spaces follow basic geometric shapes and simple lines without other morphological elements. The masonry consists of irregular local stones, using alabaster stones in the corners. An internal marble carved spiral staircase leads to the tower’s crown, to the metal cage where the lighting machines are placed. Finally, in a room of the auxiliary buildings, a small exhibition was created and operates daily on the subject of the Greek lighthouse network and the Lighthouse of Monemvasia.