There are no less than six historic lighthouses along the coast of the Algarve; a comforting thought for the many sailors travelling the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Measuring approximately 155km on the south facing coast and 50km more on the rugged west coast, you can see why these lighthouses are necessary.
These are interesting facilities and bear no comparison to those of days gone by; except for the outer structure of course. After the great earthquake of 1755, the Marquee of Pombal created the Portuguese Lighthouse Service and in 1758 ordered a group of six lighthouses to be built in the Algarve, and here they are in all their glory!
Sagres in Vila do Bispo
On the Cabo St. Vincente headland stands one of the most powerful lighthouses in Europe, São Vincente lighthouse. As early as the 1500s, lights shone from the Convent of São Vincente, until Sir Francis Drake destroyed it in 1587. The light was replaced in 1606 with a new tower, warning sailors of the rugged coastline.
The present tower was built in 1846 and was converted to electricity in 1906, with a hyper radial lens that measures almost 4m high and over 1m wide (13ft high and 4ft in diameter are the imperial measurements given). Automated in 1982, it is said to be the second most powerful lighthouse in Europe with a visible beam reaching 32 nautical miles.
Lagos
The Ponta da Piedade lighthouse is situated close to the town of Lagos in the west; in a beautiful area with some very striking rock formations. Built in 1913, the tower is only 5m high, but stands on cliffs that are 51m high. Modernised in 1923, 1952, 1956 and in 1983, it’s now electrically automated with a range of 20 miles.
Portimão (Concelho de Lagoa)
The lighthouse, Ponta do Altar, is found on the cliff tops of Ferragudo, a small town to the east of the harbour in Portimão. Built as a square tower on top of a light keeper’s house, it started its working life on the 1st January 1893 and was automated 90 years later in 1983.
A huge concrete communications tower was built next to the lighthouse in 2007, which rather spoils the whole effect!
Carvoeiro in Lagoa
Located on the Peniche Peninsular, the Alfanzina lighthouse is paramount for navigating the channel between Peniche and the Berlengas islands, situated 5.5 miles to the west. This 23m lighthouse is built on cliffs of 63m and has a range of 29 miles.
Plans to build a lighthouse here were first made in 1883, however, it was 1920 before the lighthouse was constructed and went to work. By 1981 it became fully automatic.
The Santa Maria lighthouse is situated on the island of Cultura between the sea entrances of Olhão and Faro. First built in 1851, the tower was extended by 34m in 1922. However, this led to it destabilising and in 1929 this was remedied by encasing the tower in concrete. More work was done on the tower in 1995, as well as replacing the lantern. In 1982 the lighthouse became fully automatic.
Vila Real Santo Antónió
Also known as Luz de Santo António, this lighthouse was first built in 1923 after much discussion on how and where to build. Situated at the entrance to the Rio Guadiana, which separates the borders of Spain and Portugal, the circular tower rises 46m above the two story maintenance buildings standing by its side. In 1927 it ran on generator power and in 1947 transferred to mains electricity. It was refurbished in 1960 and became automated in 1989.
Managing Lighthouses
Lighthouses in Portugal are owned by the Portuguese Navy (Marinha de Portugal) and run by the (Direcção de Faróis), a branch of the navy responsible for lighthouses. In November of 2011, the Navy decreed that all six of the historic Algarve lighthouses would be open to the pubic each Wednesday afternoon. This would give everybody the opportunity to see the inside workings of these vital yet stunning edifices. However, it seems that not all of these lighthouses have maintained their Wednesdays opening hours, so it’s advisable to check before going to view.
There are at least 17 lesser lighthouses dotted along the coastline of the Algarve, ensuring that the busy shipping lanes are well protected.
We have come a long way from the days when lighthouses were “worked” by heroic, solitary men and women, whose valuable work was instrumental in preventing many a shipwreck.
Thank you to Algarve photographer, Dave Sheldrake, for the use of his excellent photographs of Algarve lighthouses on this page.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.
Lighthouses of the Algarve
by Sun’s Dragon
There are no less than six historic lighthouses along the coast of the Algarve; a comforting thought for the many sailors travelling the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Measuring approximately 155km on the south facing coast and 50km more on the rugged west coast, you can see why these lighthouses are necessary.
These are interesting facilities and bear no comparison to those of days gone by; except for the outer structure of course. After the great earthquake of 1755, the Marquee of Pombal created the Portuguese Lighthouse Service and in 1758 ordered a group of six lighthouses to be built in the Algarve, and here they are in all their glory!
Sagres in Vila do Bispo
On the Cabo St. Vincente headland stands one of the most powerful lighthouses in Europe, São Vincente lighthouse. As early as the 1500s, lights shone from the Convent of São Vincente, until Sir Francis Drake destroyed it in 1587. The light was replaced in 1606 with a new tower, warning sailors of the rugged coastline.
The present tower was built in 1846 and was converted to electricity in 1906, with a hyper radial lens that measures almost 4m high and over 1m wide (13ft high and 4ft in diameter are the imperial measurements given). Automated in 1982, it is said to be the second most powerful lighthouse in Europe with a visible beam reaching 32 nautical miles.
Lagos
The Ponta da Piedade lighthouse is situated close to the town of Lagos in the west; in a beautiful area with some very striking rock formations. Built in 1913, the tower is only 5m high, but stands on cliffs that are 51m high. Modernised in 1923, 1952, 1956 and in 1983, it’s now electrically automated with a range of 20 miles.
Portimão (Concelho de Lagoa)
The lighthouse, Ponta do Altar, is found on the cliff tops of Ferragudo, a small town to the east of the harbour in Portimão. Built as a square tower on top of a light keeper’s house, it started its working life on the 1st January 1893 and was automated 90 years later in 1983.
A huge concrete communications tower was built next to the lighthouse in 2007, which rather spoils the whole effect!
Carvoeiro in Lagoa
Located on the Peniche Peninsular, the Alfanzina lighthouse is paramount for navigating the channel between Peniche and the Berlengas islands, situated 5.5 miles to the west. This 23m lighthouse is built on cliffs of 63m and has a range of 29 miles.
Plans to build a lighthouse here were first made in 1883, however, it was 1920 before the lighthouse was constructed and went to work. By 1981 it became fully automatic.
The Santa Maria lighthouse is situated on the island of Cultura between the sea entrances of Olhão and Faro. First built in 1851, the tower was extended by 34m in 1922. However, this led to it destabilising and in 1929 this was remedied by encasing the tower in concrete. More work was done on the tower in 1995, as well as replacing the lantern. In 1982 the lighthouse became fully automatic.
Vila Real Santo Antónió
Also known as Luz de Santo António, this lighthouse was first built in 1923 after much discussion on how and where to build. Situated at the entrance to the Rio Guadiana, which separates the borders of Spain and Portugal, the circular tower rises 46m above the two story maintenance buildings standing by its side. In 1927 it ran on generator power and in 1947 transferred to mains electricity. It was refurbished in 1960 and became automated in 1989.
Lighthouses in Portugal are owned by the Portuguese Navy (Marinha de Portugal) and run by the (Direcção de Faróis), a branch of the navy responsible for lighthouses. In November of 2011, the Navy decreed that all six of the historic Algarve lighthouses would be open to the pubic each Wednesday afternoon. This would give everybody the opportunity to see the inside workings of these vital yet stunning edifices. However, it seems that not all of these lighthouses have maintained their Wednesdays opening hours, so it’s advisable to check before going to view.
There are at least 17 lesser lighthouses dotted along the coastline of the Algarve, ensuring that the busy shipping lanes are well protected.
We have come a long way from the days when lighthouses were “worked” by heroic, solitary men and women, whose valuable work was instrumental in preventing many a shipwreck.
Thank you to Algarve photographer, Dave Sheldrake, for the use of his excellent photographs of Algarve lighthouses on this page.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.