Faro Botafoch

The Botafoc Lighthouse stands on the east side of the entrance to Ibiza's harbor and remains an active aid to navigation for shipping. Built between 1859 and 1861 to plans by the engineer Emili Pou y Bonet, it housed the keepers' living quarters on two floors from the start, since space was tight. It was originally fitted with an oil lamp; in 1883 the system was converted to kerosene. A major upgrade came in 1910, when the tower was raised and a new lantern with cut-glass lenses was installed. In 1918 it became one of the first lighthouses to be electrified. Today the light shows white or red, depending on the sector, and goes dark for two seconds in a seven-second cycle. With a range of fourteen nautical miles, it continues to serve as an important landmark for mariners.