Most of Italy (officially the Italian Republic, Repubblica Italiana in Italian) occupies a long peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea, with the Adriatic and Ionian Seas on the east and the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas to the west; the country also includes the Mediterranean's two largest islands, Sicily and Sardinia, and many smaller islands. With this geography Italy has a very long coastline reckoned by geographers at about 7600 km (4722 mi). Guarding this coast are many lighthouses; the Directory lists more than 400. The Lago di Garda is Italy's largest lake, some 51 km (32 mi) long, stretching north to south at the southern edge of the Italian Alps. Portions of the lake lie in the regions of Lombardia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto. Ferries visit nearly all the towns along the lake, and pleasure boat traffic is heavy in the warmer months. The Italian word for a lighthouse is faro, plural fari. This name is usually reserved for the larger coastal lights; smaller beacons are often called fanali. In Italian torre is a tower, riva is a shore, and lago is a lake.
|
|
East (left) and West Breakwater Lights, Moniga dei Garda, September 2021 photo copyright Andreas Köhler; used by permission |
Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: East: Venice and Trieste
Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key
Posted August 21, 2006. Checked and revised January 5, 2024. Lighthouses: 6. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.