Name and Location

Farol de Ponta da Piedade, also known as "Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse", is an active coastal lighthouse located at the southern tip of the Algarve, near the town of Lagos in southern Portugal. Its address is EM536, 38JJ+96, 8600 Lagos, São Gonçalo de Lagos, Faro District, Portugal.

Construction and History

The Farol de Ponta da Piedade was inaugurated in 1913 (construction began around 1912). The purpose of the lighthouse was to guide vessels into Lagos harbour and warn of the nearby sandstone reefs and sea stacks. Initially, it was manned by a team of two–three keepers who lived on site in the adjoining house; electrification and automation took place in the mid-20th century.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is an example of utilitarian early Modern architecture, combining a square-plan tower with simple neo-Manueline motifs on the keeper's dwelling. The materials used are local sandstone and concrete. The tower is rendered and painted white, with contrasting ochre trim on the keeper's house. The tower height is 20 meters above base.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse has a focal height of 51 meters above mean sea level and a light characteristic of Group flashing White, 1 + (6) every 7 seconds (Fl (1+6) W 7 s). Its nominal range is 20 nautical miles (approximately 37 kilometers).

Accessibility and Visiting

The site is open 24 hours a day via a coastal footpath from Lagos Marina (EM536 road), with a small free parking area at the cliff top. The tower itself is closed to the public, but visitors can enjoy panoramic views from the adjacent terrain.

Notable Views and Landscape

Visitors can take in breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding landscape from the cliff-top vantage point. Best visiting times are during sunset for cliff-top vistas; low tide for exploring nearby grottoes by boat.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local lore (unverified) speaks of lightkeepers signaling each other across rocky promontories during winter storms, highlighting the importance of this lighthouse in maritime history.

Technical and Operational Details

The Portuguese Directorate of Lighthouses (Direção de Faróis) under Autoridade Marítima Nacional owns and operates the lighthouse. Maintenance involves periodic repainting and structural surveys; lamp and lens overhauls every 5 years.

Further Information

For further reading, please refer to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponta_da_Piedade_Lighthouse, Wikidata: Q10280124, Wikimedia Commons category: Category:Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse, Instituto Hidrográfico (Pt): annual List of Lights (Listagem de Faróis e Balizas), and Local guide: “Ponta da Piedade – Lagos” on Algarve Tourism Board website.