See El Faro del Cabo Santa Maria, La Paloma, Uruguay

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The lighthouse is the distinctive construction of the La Paloma spa. Built in Cabo Santa María in 1874, it is 29 meters high, the focus is 42 meters and has a range of 22 miles. Construction began on October 12, 1870, by the company Faros del Río de la Plata Dax, Gelly and Obes. The initial tower of the lighthouse was still under construction, on May 17, 1872, 30 meters high, when it collapsed due to a big storm. During the collapse, fifteen workers from the construction company who were sheltered in the tower died and were buried in the cemetery of the lighthouse. Later it was rebuilt based on the original project and it was concluded on September 1, 1874. In 1896 the concession ended and the State took possession of it. At the beginning it was lit with kerosene lighters, until in 1936 it was electrified. It has a rotary machine system on bronze wheels. To access its top, you climb a spiral staircase with 143 steps. Attached to the tower were six rooms, one of which was intended for the castaways, equipped with sloping beds, a first aid kit and supplies. The La Paloma spa was built around the lighthouse. In 1976 it was declared a National Historic Monument by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

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