About 1.5 km from the Orchilla Lighthouse, visit the interesting monument of the Ferro Meridian, the historical zero meridian, which was defined by the island of El Hierro (Ferro).
This monument is also associated with the commemoration of the nearby and hardly accessible westernmost point of Spain.
The 10 best hotels - El Hierro
Historic zero meridian
El Hierro, the westernmost Canary Island, has been considered the westernmost tip of the world for many centuries.
The ancient mathematician Claudios Ptolemy placed the zero meridian at the westernmost point of El Hierro in his book Geografiké hyfégésis, and all latitudes were derived from it.
The zero meridian of Ferrara was a key point until the great overseas discoveries of the 15th-16th centuries.
The westernmost point of Spain
Because this part of the coast is very difficult to access due to the extremely rugged and rough surface of hardened volcanic lava, the monument to the ancient zero meridian is also the monument for the 1 km (1 mi) westernmost point of all Spain.
At El Hierro, near the town of La Restinga, you can also visit the southernmost point of Spain.
How to get there
There is a comfortable road leading to the monument, which is even passable for off-road vehicles.
Leave your normal conventional car parked on the main tarmac road leading to Faro de Orchilla. The turn-off to "Meridiano 0" is clearly marked.
The road from the road measures approx. 2.8 km there and back in total, see the route map.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in El Hierro.
