Name and Location

Farol do Cabo de São Vicente, also known as the Cabo de São Vicente Lighthouse, is located at the southwestern tip of continental Portugal. Its official name is Farol do Cabo de São Vicente, with a nautical reference of D-2168 (also noted as Int. Ref. D-2168). The lighthouse's coordinates are 37°01′22.5″ N, 8°59′47.5″ W (decimal: 37.0229105, –8.9965214).

2. Construction and History

The Cabo de São Vicente Lighthouse was first lit in 1846, replacing earlier signal stations used by mariners since Antiquity. The masonry tower was electrified and upgraded from oil lamps to electric light in the early 20th century, and automated in 1977–78. It has been continuously serving as a crucial beacon for over 175 years.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's tower is an unpainted, rough-cut local limestone structure with a cylindrical form, gallery, and red-roofed lantern. Attached buildings include single-storey keeper's dwellings (now offices/exhibition space). The tower stands at 28 meters tall, with a focal plane at 86 meters above sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits one white flash every 5 seconds (Fl W 5 s; sequence "0.1 + 4.9 s"). Its range is nominal 32 nautical miles (approximately 59 kilometers). The light is powered by an electric lamp fed from on-site generators and mains backup, with modern optics featuring a rotating Fresnel lens. A fog signal horn, category "horn" per national maritime authority, is also in operation.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is open to visitors year-round, with varying hours depending on the season (typically 10 am–6 pm). Access is via paved road EN 268 from Sagres, with a small paid parking lot at the site. Facilities include a small interpretive center explaining local maritime history, a gift shop, and no café on-site. Entrance fees are modest (approximately €3-5 for adults; discounts for children/seniors).

6. Notable Views and Landscape

From the cliff top, visitors can enjoy sweeping vistas of the Atlantic horizon, seabird colonies, and dramatic sunsets. The surrounding landscape features rocky sea stacks, shipwreck remains in coastal shallows, and low scrub and hardy grasses exposed to strong westerly winds.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Ancient myths held that Cabo de São Vicente was the "End of the World" (Finis Terrae) to Classical geographers. Henry the Navigator is reputedly said to have maintained a navigational school in nearby Sagres, using the headland as a practice ground.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by Portugal's Directorate of Lighthouses under the Portuguese Navy's Maritime Authority (Administração do Mar). It is listed as part of the national maritime heritage and proposals are being considered for classification as Municipal Heritage ("Imóvel de Interesse Municipal").

9. Further Information

For more information, visit the Portuguese Navy, Directorate of Lighthouses website at https://www.amn.pt/DF/Paginas/FaroldoCabodeSVicente.aspx or OpenStreetMap node 199182482.