LIGHTHOUSES 2013 - STONČICA

Stončica
43° 04,4' N / 016° 15,6' E

The big lighthouse building in the north-east promontory of the island of Vis is adorned by one of the tallest towers of the Adriatic. From its erection, the turret with the light has been among the most important signal lights in the aquatorium. The importance of navigation through always uncomfortable Channel of Vis has determined the length of the light beam of Stončica which has a range of 17 nautical miles. The lighthouse is today very important also because of the dense night traffic in this part of the Adriatic. Lees and bays of the island of Vis are also targeted shelters in the night navigation routes from the directions of Hvar, Korčula and Lastovo.
 
The promontory of Stončica, after which the lighthouse was named, protrudes into the sea blueness and has until the erection of the lighthouse presented a high risk in night navigation.  The lighthouse was built in 1865 on the promontory separating the bay of Stončica, west from the lighthouse, from the bay of Smokvina, on its eastern side. The lighthouse building is unusual and is unlike any other on the east side of the Adriatic. Because of its very important strategic position, the building also functioned as a barrack and for the reasons of defence it was digged into firm rocks of the promontory.
The interior of the building has a surface of 250 square meters and in its corridors one's own steps echo creepily. As concerns space lay out, the architecture of old Austro-Hungarian barracks can be recognised. Next to the main building there are secondary buildings that once served as ammunition and shell warehouses and today there is an authentically arranged Dalmatian tavern. The lighthouse is today connected to island's power supply. In the old cistern rain water is still collected, since by road to Vis there are eight kilometres and the lighthouse keepers go there to do their shopping only when they run out of supplies.  The landing-place where once stone blocks for the lighthouse were unloaded is situated in the western lee of the promontory. From there a path, about 50 meters long, leads to the lighthouse courtyard.
Fishermen and yachtsmen have always dropped by, although in the aquatorium of Stončica strong winds blow daily; in the night the winds are usually from the north-east while on the afternoon winds from the west get stronger. In afternoon hours in summer when mistral blows, to the east from the promontory lees and safe anchorage can be found.
The nearby aquatorium of the promontory of Stončica is a cemetery of drowned ships from historic battles that took place before the erection of the lighthouse. One great sea battle took place here in 1866, shortly after the building of the lighthouse, between the fleets of Italy and Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Commanding the Austro-Hungarian fleet was Admiral Tegetthoff who defeated Italian fleet by encircling it in a wedge-like way and the wrack of the ships are still scattered on the sea floor. 
The lighthouse and the lighthouse crew at the promontory of Stončica  are still resisting the waves and the wind that subside only in twilight with the first flash from the high tower, when the sky is covered with starry lace of memories of sea battles from some past times.
 

Neven Šerić, PhD