There is very limited, reliable information about a “Portomaso Lighthouse” in Malta — the sources don’t support the existence of a traditional lighthouse tower there (in the sense of a tall masonry lighthouse). What does appear is a marina light / beacon associated with Portomaso Marina. Here are full details based on the best sources, plus some key caveats.
What is “Portomaso Lighthouse” — Reality vs Confusion
According to Vassallo History, the “Portomaso Marina Light” is located at the entrance to Portomaso Marina (St. Julian’s / San Ġiljan).
It is a private aid to navigation, not a classic “lighthouse” tower.
Description: 6 m (≈20 ft) “locomotive-style lamp” mounted on a small octagonal 1-storey marina control room, on piles.
Its focal plane (height of light) is ~ 8 m (26 ft) according to Vassallo History.
Light characteristic: flashing red (Vassallo History says “flashing red light”).
Managing organization: Portomaso Marina.
Status: According to the Ibiblio “Lighthouses of Malta” list, the Portomaso Marina light was “removed around 2019.”
According to the same source, the original light was mounted on 8 concrete piles.
In 2016, TVM News reported that the existing Portomaso “lighthouse” (i.e., the beacon/light structure) was to be demolished and rebuilt as part of redevelopment: the Planning Authority granted permission to rebuild it “at a higher level, with a store beneath.”
This suggests that the light structure might not be a historic lighthouse but a modern marina navigation aid, subject to development.
French Wikipedia describes the Portomaso light as a private “phare” (beacon) at the entrance of Portomaso Marina in San Ġiljan.
It mentions that the light is automated.
The structure is small: “a small piece with a dome on a small platform.”
The light is red (“un éclat rouge”) per the French description.
No specific range is given in that source (range “not known”).
Portomaso is a modern residential / business / marina development in St. Julian’s.
The Portomaso Business Tower is a prominent building in that area, but not related to the lighthouse / beacon function in a historic sense.
The “lighthouse” is more of a marina light to guide boats into the Portomaso Marina, rather than a classic tall navigational lighthouse.
Interpretation & Significance
The “Portomaso Lighthouse” is not a historic lighthouse like Delimara or St. Elmo; rather, it's a modern marina beacon / navigational light.
Its role was to mark the entrance to the marina, helping small boats safely navigate in and out.
Because it is a private aid to navigation, it is/was likely maintained by the marina operator rather than a national lighthouse authority.
The structure’s removal (“around 2019” per lighthouse lists) suggests that its original form may no longer exist, or has been replaced or relocated due to redevelopment.
Key Technical / Navigational Data
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Portomaso Marina, St. Julian’s / San Ġiljan, Malta |
| Type | Marina beacon / control-room light (not a tall lighthouse) |
| Height / Focal Plane | ~ 8 m (26 ft) per Vassallo History |
| Characteristic | Flashing red light (Vassallo History) |
| Status | Removed approx. 2019 (per ibiblio lighthouse list) |
| Managing Organization | Portomaso Marina (private) |
| Redevelopment | Permission granted (2016) to demolish and rebuild the structure at higher level. |
Gaps / Uncertainties
There is no definitive “year built” in the sources I found — the lighthouse / beacon is described in terms of “date unknown (recent)” by some lighthouse directories.
The range of the light is not clearly stated in some sources (e.g., French Wikipedia says “not known”).
Since it's a private aid, it may not have the same level of documented historical engineering detail as national lighthouses.
It’s unclear exactly what happened after “removal around 2019” — whether the light was permanently decommissioned, replaced, or relocated.
