Veli Rat Lighthouse, Stone lighthouse on northern Dugi otok, Croatia.
Veli Rat Lighthouse is a 36 m masonry tower on the northwestern tip of Dugi Otok, with a white lantern and single gallery. A single-storey keeper's house encircles its base, its yellow walls reputedly painted with a mixture coloured by thousands of eggs. The light stands 41 m above the sea.
The structure was built in 1849 and has served continuously as a navigation aid in the Adriatic Sea ever since. For nearly two centuries it has guided ships through these waters.
The Chapel of St Nicholas, patron saint of sailors, stands beside the lighthouse and holds a Roman Missal from 1869. Romantic weddings are now held there with increasing frequency.
The best way to reach the site is by ferry from the mainland to Dugi otok followed by local transport to the northern tip of the island. Weather conditions affect travel, so it is wise to check conditions beforehand.
The yellow of the keeper's house walls is attributed in local legend to a paint mixture coloured with egg yolks, said to number 100,000, giving the coating better consistency against the salt air. The claim is unverified but repeated on the island.
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