Juan Antonio García's last guided tour at the Porto Pi lighthouse
Palma
12/07/2017
Juan Antonio García, one of the most emblematic and loved lighthouse-keepers on the islands, retires after dedicating 43 years to lighthouses.
Juan Antonio has worked as a navigation support system specialist in several locations around the Balearic Islands, including at the Cala Figuera, Cap d'Artrutx and the Cabo Gros (Sóller) lighthouses. In addition to this work, he also gave guided tours around the permanent Señales Marítimas exhibition at the Porto Pi lighthouse.
Today Juan, celebrating his 65th birthday and last day as a lighthouse-keeper, wanted to make the most of the visit of Joan Gual de Torrella, President of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, and Llorenç Huguet, Dean of the University of the Balearic Islands, to give his last guided tour of the lighthouse. The tour will certainly be one of his most memorable.
Juan Antonio García said: "I have be able to see how lighthouses have gone from operating with electricity, solar panels and now with LED technology. This automation has meant that there are increasing fewer lighthouse-keepers. There were 26 of us when I started. Now I'm leaving behind just 2."
The exhibition room will remain temporarily closed to the public while preparations are being completed for the start of a new era with longer visiting hours that could stretch to weekends.
The retirements of Juan Antonio García and Pedro Vidal, a Capdepera lighthouse-keeper, have been the most significant this year.
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