Phare de Tazones, Lighthouse in Tazones, Villaviciosa, Spain

The Tazones lighthouse stands on Punta del Olivo at 127 metres above sea level. Its octagonal sandstone tower, with chamfered angles and a metal-railed gallery, rises 11 metres to a white lantern room under a metal dome with a weather vane. Attached to the north side is a two-storey keeper's house with white walls and a red tiled roof.

The structure was built in 1864 to guide ships safely through the treacherous waters of the Cantabrian coast. Since its construction, it has remained a crucial navigational aid for vessels passing this challenging stretch of sea.

The lighthouse is managed by the port authority of Gijón. In 2007 the annex buildings were handed to a local association, which set up a cultural centre and a natural history museum there. The tower carries a plaque reading "Faro de Villaviciosa. Año de 1864".

Visitors reach the site by following a marked trail from the village of Tazones, with parking available near the trailhead. The walk is fairly short and the clifftop location provides excellent views as you approach the structure.

The lighthouse stands on Punta del Olivo, also called Punta de las Ariceras, at 127 metres above sea level, so its light reaches 20 nautical miles out. The lantern sits only 11 metres above the ground, reached by an iron spiral staircase of 37 steps installed with the lantern in 1945.