One Of Spain’s Last Lighthouse Keepers Retires

AFTER a 33-year profession moving arsenic a lighthouse keeper astatine Mesa Roldán successful nan Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, Mr Mario Sanz is retiring. Sanz was 1 of nan past lighthouse keepers successful Almeria, and so successful nan full of Spain, and pinch his status nan early of nan occupation remains uncertain.

Since 1992, Sanz has been moving successful nan Faro de la Mesa Roldán, arsenic good arsenic caring aft nan unsocial depository situated there: a postulation of funny objects pinch astir 3,000 pieces, dedicated to nan trade of lighthouses and lighthouse-keeping. The destiny of nan depository and who will beryllium taking complete its guidance is yet unclear.

The depository of Mesa Roldán: A postulation of curiosities

The museum, which officially took shape successful nan twelvemonth 2008, is location to a wide assortment of items, including humanities documents, photographs, lighting instrumentality – some lipid and electrical – stamps, comics, a Morse telegraph, a power from nan Second World War, and moreover socks pinch lighthouses connected them. On nan walls of nan museum, photos of nan lighthouse keepers successful Granada and Almeria since 1863 tin beryllium appreciated. Over time, lighthouse keepers’ families, artisans, ancient dealers, and moreover regular visitors person contributed to nan collection. According to Sanz, and overmuch to his ain surprise, thousands of group a twelvemonth person visited successful hopes of seeing nan wrong of nan lighthouse and nan marine curiosities successful nan museum.

Sanz is putting successful nan activity to make judge nan depository does not vanish for good: he has created a “Friends of nan Mesa Roldán Lighthouse” taste relation that has much than 730 members, and has requested that nan Port Authority unfastened nan depository pinch fixed hours. If this scheme does not cookware out, nan postulation belongs to Sanz, and he is prepared to return nan postulation elsewhere, though that would beryllium a past edifice for nan erstwhile lighthouse keeper.

However, nan lighthouse is not conscionable nan location of these precious relics of nan past: nan building still maintains its normal function, serving arsenic a guiding ray to seafarers. Its ray has a scope of 40 kilometres, though Sanz said it tin scope up to 70 kilometres connected a clear night.

Only a fistful of lighthouse keepers stay progressive successful nan full region of Andalucia, peculiarly successful Chipiona, Estepona, and Cabo de Gata.