With its 70 meters of height, it is the second tallest lighthouse in Italy after the “Lanterna di Genova”.
The signalling is located on a promontory in “via Madonna della Penna” near the port of Vasto. This location was chosen because it was strategically important: according to the opinion of the technicians, the site constituted a real natural port, the most important between Ancona and Bari.
Built in 1906, it has been rebuilt several times. In fact, the structure visible today is not the original one from 1906, but a reconstruction since in 1944 the retreating German army partially destroyed the old lighthouse. The demolition was completed two years later and on 2 May 1948 it was inaugurated again.
Built on the design of “Olindo Tarcione”, the lighthouse looks like a tower-shaped masonry construction; at the base there is a two-storey building which houses the lodgings for the families of the two managers who permanently look after the lighthouse, which is still manned, and some administrative offices.
A spiral staircase of 307 steps leads to the top. The promontory on which the lighthouse was built boasts one of the most beautiful views overlooking the sea, where it is possible to admire the panorama from Ortona to the Gargano. It is located about 7 km north of Vasto and is adjacent to the Punta Aderci Nature Reserve. At this promontory there is a beach with an overflow, which flows into that of Punta Aderci. Punta Penna beach also comes into contact with the port of Vasto.
Wikipedia source
