And so you stand, once, in the middle of the glass chamber, next to the lamp, enlightened by the lamp that you lit, you brave that you are the flame itself, which is never saved. Giannis Ritsos, The Guardian 1958

The lighthouses. World symbols of consolation and hope. A lime light in the dark that guides sailors to the vast sea and conveying the promise of land. They stand alone, still in time, on the rocks, on a naked strip of land and awe with their spooky glow.

Prime Time’s camera and Stavros Ioannides traveled to inaccessible corners of Greece, discovering the stone giants who have been leading sailors for centuries.

They show us the history of the unique architectural monuments that stand imposing on steep capes and the importance they have to date in international navigation, despite the rapid evolution of the means of navigation. We tour their elaborate towers and follow the lonely but charming daily life of the lighters.

Greece, with more than 1,600 flashing torches, lights and lanterns, has one of the largest lighthouse networks in the world. Each lighthouse has its own story. And every lighter has to tell legends and adventures.

Tainaro

At the southernmost tip of mainland Europe is the Akrotiri Tainaro where a lighthouse dominates. The Navy Lighthouse located in the famous Matapan bay first opened in 1887 and never erased. Its light travels to 19 nautical miles giving the seafarers the message of hope.

To reach Tainaro, you need to cross a rough and dangerous path. The course to the lighthouse looks like an initiation ceremony in an ancient mystery. “Yes there is a lot of caring, even we carry our water on our back,” says the lighter, Costas.

It is no coincidence that the beacons are built in excellent locations. It’s an open window in the world. “It’s the whole sea, the whole sea in front of you,” says Kostas. In Tainaro, the lighters remain isolated for at least ten days. “This loneliness is used to it, addicted to you and is sweet,” the lighter notes.

In the lighthouse, time freezes. It stands still like the stone monuments of the sea.

And how does time pass for a lighter? “The time for a lighthouse is relevant. I will liken him to the time of an astronaut. What do I want to say with it. When you are on earth, like astronaut, time passes quickly. When you are in the lighthouse, it’s like you are in space. Time is slow and heavy.”

A few minutes after sunset, the first blossom becomes, and with the first rays of the sun, the lighthouse goes off.

What does a lighthouse mean to Kostas? “Optimism, hope, joy. As the sailors perceive it when they suddenly find a lighthouse in the middle of nowhere, after a long journey, difficult journey, through storms, trumpets, storms and suddenly see a lighthouse, it is for them, it is for them.

Lemnos

480 kilometers northeast, in Plaka, Lemnos, is Fanis, the lighthouse who has been serving this historic lighthouse for the last 22 years.

Opposite 36 miles is Mount Athos. At 42 is Thassos. In 20 is Samothrace. In all 11 nautical miles, Imbros is. On the other hand are the Dardanelles.

The construction of the lighthouse and the tower was completed in 1908. And since then both have been working together at the same time.

What do the lighthouses symbolize? “They are buildings that are made with great care. Each of them has its own history. And we as a younger generation of lighters, maybe last I would like to say, we have to keep them as they are. To find the next generations. It’s my second home.” says Fanis.

Monemvasia

Although lighthouses have evolved over the years, they require maintenance and constant monitoring.

The maintenance of the “stone” giants

The lighthouses have always been and are an integral part of the Greek. But they are not just for large ships. They are also aimed at small boats and simple boatmen, fishermen.

The life of the lighter is not easy. But she also has her good times

The third weekend of August is the day of the lighthouses, so everyone is open to the public. The rich history of the Greek Faric Network is concentrated in a museum in Piraeus, within the Lighthouse Service of the Navy.