LIGHTHOUSES SVETI ANDRIJA (ST. ANDREW)

SVETI ANDRIJA (St. Andrew)

The southernmost island of the Elaphites group is 400 metres long and in the widest part 80 metres wide, situated 6 nautical miles away from Dubrovnik. Closest to it is Lopud - two miles away. Thickly covered with evergreen trees it has steep coast that only on the west side more descends more gently toward the sea. The south coast steeply dives into sea abysses, some more than 120 metres deep. The island has been proclaimed an ornithological reserve since there dwell flocks of many migratory birds. The lighthouse was built in 1873 at the highest island plateau and the light beam is visible from the distance of 12 nautical miles. That same year also landing place was built on the north coast of the island, impressive by its high stone bridge from which a crane lifts the lighthouse man's boat when the north wind gets stronger. Stone staircase through the pine tree wood leads to the ample terrace in front of the lighthouse. The lighthouse building is a vast one-storey building with the attic and the four-sided tower. The light in the tower rotates 69 metres above sea level. At the end of the 19th century next to the lighthouse two adjoining buildings have been built – aggregate room and warehouse. The arrangement of rooms in the interior of the building is accommodated to military purpose since the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy intended to use it also as a cannon outpost. From the time of the erection of the lighthouse until today there has always been a crew in the lighthouse. Today, next to the lighthouse men in the ground floor and in the warmer period of the year in the first floor, in an arranged apartment also tourist can be accommodated. Electric power is provided by the solar equipment with transformers and the water is provided by the desalinator. In deep fissures under the cliffs very often groupers could be found. Today they moved away from the island disturbed by the sound of cruiser's motors navigating towards the harbour of Dubrovnik in the vicinity of the island. A legend about a poor woman from Lopud refers to the island St. Andrew before the lighthouse was built, when here stood the Benedictine monastery. SVETI ANDRIJA (St. Andrew) The southernmost island of the Elaphites group is 400 metres long and in the widest part 80 metres wide, situated 6 nautical miles away from Dubrovnik. Closest to it is Lopud - two miles away. Thickly covered with evergreen trees it has steep coast that only on the west side more descends more gently toward the sea. The south coast steeply dives into sea abysses, some more than 120 metres deep. The island has been proclaimed an ornithological reserve since there dwell flocks of many migratory birds. The lighthouse was built in 1873 at the highest island plateau and the light beam is visible from the distance of 12 nautical miles. That same year also landing place was built on the north coast of the island, impressive by its high stone bridge from which a crane lifts the lighthouse man's boat when the north wind gets stronger. Stone staircase through the pine tree wood leads to the ample terrace in front of the lighthouse. The lighthouse building is a vast one-storey building with the attic and the four-sided tower. The light in the tower rotates 69 metres above sea level. At the end of the 19th century next to the lighthouse two adjoining buildings have been built – aggregate room and warehouse. The arrangement of rooms in the interior of the building is accommodated to military purpose since the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy intended to use it also as a cannon outpost. From the time of the erection of the lighthouse until today there has always been a crew in the lighthouse. Today, next to the lighthouse men in the ground floor and in the warmer period of the year in the first floor, in an arranged apartment also tourist can be accommodated. Electric power is provided by the solar equipment with transformers and the water is provided by the desalinator. In deep fissures under the cliffs very often groupers could be found. Today they moved away from the island disturbed by the sound of cruiser's motors navigating towards the harbour of Dubrovnik in the vicinity of the island. A legend about a poor woman from Lopud refers to the island St. Andrew before the lighthouse was built, when here stood the Benedictine monastery.
Neven Šerić, PhD