An image of the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, one of Formentera’s most iconic landscapes, has received a special mention in the fifth edition of the national photography contest on Instagram ‘Mi Rincón Favorito’, a competition that each year seeks to showcase the most inspiring places in Spain through the eyes of amateur and professional photographers alike.
The photograph, taken by Elena Vicente Copete, blends the silhouette of Formentera’s famous lighthouse with a human gaze. This composition captivated the jury, earning it one of the twenty special mentions awarded “in recognition of the high artistic quality of this edition”.
This year’s contest brought together thousands of images from across the country. The first national prize went to a photograph taken in San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (Bizkaia) by Héctor Caro, while the second prizes were awarded to photographers from Badajoz, Madrid, Zaragoza and Palencia.
€7,000 in prizes
In this edition, ‘Mi Rincón Favorito’ distributed more than €7,000 in prizes and featured a jury of over 100 members, including professional photographers, tourism representatives and members of the organising committee.
According to the organisers, the 2025 awards are “an invitation to travel through the country’s diverse landscapes and culture”.
Created in 2021, ‘Mi Rincón Favorito’ aims to promote sustainable tourism and the natural and cultural heritage of Spain through social media. The competition is held every year around World Tourism Day (27 September).
Lighthouse closed to traffic in summer
Since 2017, access to the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse area has been restricted to motor vehicles during the summer season. Visitors must park their cars or motorcycles in a designated car park and then walk or cycle the final two kilometres to the lighthouse.
This measure, introduced by the Consell de Formentera, aims to prevent the overcrowding of people and vehicles that used to occur during summer, threatening this area of high scenic and environmental value and causing safety concerns.
The restriction remains in force from 15 May to 15 October.
Ibiza finalists
Two photographs from Ibiza also made it to the final stage of the contest, although the names of their authors were not disclosed. They depict Cap Bernat in Benirràs and the “sun gate” in Platges de Comte.
