| What makes it historical? |
Cape Finisterre was named by the Romans when they conquered the Iberian Peninsula. The name means “End of the World,” because after this rocky cape, there is only ocean! On this site, it’s believed that ancient Celtic tribes built an Ara Solis (sun temple) and burned fires here to guide mariners safely past the dreaded Costa da Morte, or Coast of Death!
Designed by Félix Uhagon, the lighthouse replaced these fires in 1853 and ran on olive oil until it was electrified in 1931. Visible from over 65 km away, O Faro de Finisterre keeps ships safe to this day! A little building called La Sirena produces regular warning sounds that can be heard from 25 miles away! Even with all these modern updates, you can still see little fires on the slopes, made by peregrinos burning their socks at the end of the world! |
