Name and Location

Farol do Cabo Espichel, also known as Cape Espichel Lighthouse, is located in Sesimbra, Portugal. Its official address is Estrada do Farol do Cabo Espichel, 2970 Sesimbra, Setúbal District, Portugal. The lighthouse stands on the western tip of the Cabo Espichel headland, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Construction and History

The exact year of construction for Farol do Cabo Espichel is not specified in official sources. However, it is managed by the Portuguese Navy's Directorate of Lighthouses (Direção de Faróis) and guides vessels along the Tagus estuary approach and the central Portuguese coast.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse has a cylindrical masonry tower attached to keeper's dwellings, typical of late-period Portuguese lighthouses. The specific design documentation for Farol do Cabo Espichel was not available in the consulted sources.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a white light with a characteristic of Fl W 4 s (one white flash every four seconds). Its focal plane is at 168 meters above sea level, and its light range is not specified. The lighthouse has been automated, but the exact date of automation is not available.

Accessibility and Visiting

The promontory and sanctuary grounds are open year-round to the public. However, the lighthouse tower itself is not generally open to visitors. Accessible by paved road from Sesimbra town centre, with parking available near the sanctuary.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse stands atop Jurassic limestone cliffs, adjacent to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cape Espichel (a 17th-century pilgrimage complex). The site offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding landscape. Nearby attractions include dinosaur footprint outcrops, coastal walking trails, and the sanctuary itself.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local folklore has given rise to legends of pilgrim apparitions at the sanctuary site, attributed to the headland's high cliffs and shipwreck histories.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the Portuguese Navy - Directorate of Lighthouses (Direção de Faróis) and Administração do Porto de Lisboa. Its seamark classification is light_major. For nautical chart reference, consult Portuguese hydrographic services for chart INT N° ?.

Further Information

• Direção de Faróis (Administração do Porto de Lisboa): https://www.amn.pt/DF/Paginas/FaroldoCaboEspichel.aspx
• OpenStreetMap: way/156262927
• Portuguese Hydrographic Institute – Notices to Mariners
• R. Peralta, “Lighthouses of Portugal,” 2nd ed. (Lisbon, 2010) [in Portuguese]
• Wikimedia Commons: Category:Cabo_Espichel_Lighthouse