Located near the village of Savudrija at the northern tip of the Istrian peninsula, the Savudrija Lighthouse marks its 207th anniversary this year. Completed in 1818, it holds the title of the

oldest lighthouse in Croatia and the oldest functioning lighthouse on the Adriatic coast.

Although the Faro Napoleon in Barletta, Italy, was constructed earlier in 1807, it was decommissioned in 1959 and replaced by a breakwater lighthouse, making Savudrija the longest continuously operating lighthouse in the region.

The Savudrija Lighthouse was designed by architect Pietro Nobile. Construction began in March 1817, and the light was first lit in April 1818. The project was funded through a share offering led by the Trieste Chamber of Commerce, which had strongly advocated for a lighthouse to improve navigation to the Port of Trieste.

The lighthouse also had the support of Francis I of Austria, who attended the lighting ceremony.

Built from local stone, the original tower stood 19 meters tall. A two-story keeper’s house and several single-story outbuildings were added in 1821. Later, in the late 19th century, the lighthouse was extended by an additional 10 meters, bringing its current height to 29 meters.

Today, the lighthouse is operated by Plovput and remains staffed. Since 2000, some of its rooms have also been available as vacation rentals, offering guests a unique stay in a historic setting. Photo by Miha Peče, Wikimedia commons.