Lighthouse Lanterna - one of the oldest in the world - is the main lighthouse Port of Genoa and one of the symbols of Genoa. In addition, it is the second tallest lighthouse of the world, built of brick - its height reaches 76 meters.

The lighthouse was built on the hill of San Benigno, where once stood the monastery of the same name, near the Sampierdarena - the port and industrial area of ​​Genoa. It consists of two square pieces, each of which ends with a small ledge, and on top of the installed lamp. Once upon a time this place was a peninsula until its coastline has been built up and changed. Lanterna marked the entrance to the old harbor of Genoa, now known as the Porto Antico. Over time, the whole headland on which stands the lighthouse was called Capo di Faro - Cape Lighthouse. And from the hill of San Benigno today almost nothing left - his land has been used for the expansion of the city.

In accordance with the majority of the historical sources, the first lighthouse consisted of three towers gear was built here around 1128. It was far enough away from the city at that time, and only in the 17th century lighthouse was geographically included in the so-called Cherkov Seychenteska - old part of Genoa. To foment the signal lights in those days used the dried heather and juniper. The content of the lighthouse paid for from taxes levied on ships calling at the port. For some time Lanterna played an important role in the struggle for power in the Apennine peninsula between the Guelphs and Ghibellines - during one of the battles Ghibellines seriously damaged the lighthouse trying to oust entrenched in Guelph.

In 1326 the lighthouse lantern first appeared, which fueled the fire with the help of olive oil to the passing ships could better see his light. For the same reason, in 1340 the tower itself painted coats of arms of the city, and she began to serve even non-luminous navigation sign. Around 1400 the lighthouse was organized inside the prison - among its captives were King of Cyprus James II and his wife. A little later one of the lighthouse keepers placed on its dome fish and a golden cross as a symbol of Christianity. In the early 16th century, Lanterna was seriously damaged during the war with France and Genoa, after the reconstruction has taken the form in which and has reached our days.

The construction of the new lighting system of the lighthouse began in 1778 to eliminate the consequences of its use for several centuries. In 1840, the installed rotating Fresnel lenses, and the grand opening of the renovated and modernized lighthouse took place in 1841. The last large reconstruction work carried out on the Lantern in the mid-20th century, after the Second World War.

Today, near the lighthouse has a small museum Lantern, opened in 2006. It is possible to learn about the history of Genoa and its port, and see some unique archival documents and exhibits related to the history of maritime navigation. Here on display of the Fresnel lenses, showing how the lighthouse. And at the base of the lighthouse can be seen a marble plaque with the inscription «Jesus Christus rex venit in pace et Deus Homo factus est», preserved since 1603.