Faro de Abona (Lighthouse)

The Faro de Abona rises on Punta de Abona, on the southern coast of Arico, between Abades and El Porís de Abona. Opened in 1902, it is one of the oldest on Tenerife; in 2003 a new 39-metre tower with the classic white and red bands was raised beside the original building, and it now works automatically. It is closed to the public, but you can reach its surroundings on foot along dirt tracks from El Porís or from Abades, through an arid, volcanic landscape facing the Atlantic. Its striped profile has become one of the most photographed corners of the south of the island.

Did you know? The original lighthouse reached about 16 nautical miles; once the tower was replaced by the current one and its light raised higher, its range grew to roughly 28.5 miles, almost double what it was at first.