ST. PETER

St. Peter From its erection till today the lighthouse of St. Peter has been one of the most prominent symbols of Makarska Riviera. Only 800 meters away from the centre of Makarska towards the south-west, it is today connected with Markarska by a nicely arranged walking path. The old Austro-Hungarian road leading to the lighthouse is today put in order and asphalted. In spite of the strong north wind blowing in winter from the high slopes of the mountain Biokovo, numerous tamarisk trees manage to survive on the peninsula. The lighthouse St. Peter is today included in the cultural-historical valorisation project „Stone Lights“, and tourists from all parts of the world stay in it from May to October. Off the main tourist season exclusive intimate wedding ceremonies take place in the lighthouse. In one big lighthouse keeper’s apartment a large three-room tourist apartment has been arranged where guests enjoy in winter the total solitude and in summer are surrounded by bathers at one of the most beautiful nearby pebble beaches of the Adriatic. The beautiful stone, square, ground-floor building is the most frequent motif on postcards and tourist leaflets of Makarska. The building of the lighthouse was accomplished in 1884 and it was named after the promontory on which it was built. Strong light beam from its turret regulates the night sea traffic between Split and the peninsula of Pelješac. The old vehicle entrance leading to the courtyard of the lighthouse has remained to date in the same place, on the east side of the stone wall surrounding the lighthouse. The lighthouse is dominated by a peculiar low stone tower built at the facade of the dwelling. Several stone steps lead to the entrance door of the lighthouse and behind the old wooden door a narrow staircase leads to the gallery in the ten meter high tower of the lighthouse. The light beam in the turret rotates at the height of 11 meter above sea; however, it can bee seen from all sailing directions because of the configuration of nearby coast. Seen from the sea, the unusual tower of the lighthouse with the peaks of the mountain Biokovo in the background, seems even lower so that the lighthouse resembles to a kind of wooden countryside living. The outstanding position of the lighthouse at the promontory was a reason why the earlier project that planned the erection of a high tower was abandoned. The surface of the lighthouse keeper’s flat is 80 m2 and together with the fenced courtyard the stone complex has got an area of 220 m2. The lighthouse is today automatised and connected to the town’s electricity network; the old water cistern is still in use. Rain water that is collected in it throughout the year serves the guests of the lighthouse. Ten meters of rocky coast separate the fencing wall of the lighthouse - on which hundreds of years of salt haze left its traces, from the sea. The Lighthouse of St. Peter has remained the motif of Makarska since the very beginnings of tourism in the area.