Name and Location

The Cabo de São Vicente Lighthouse, also known as the Sagres Lighthouse or Farol do Cabo de São Vicente, is located at the southwestern tip of continental Europe. The official address is Unnamed Road, 8650-360 Sagres, Vila do Bispo, Faro District, Portugal, and its coordinates are 36°59′40.4″N, 8°56′57.25″W.

2. Construction and History

The lighthouse was originally built in 1846 as part of a network of royal lighthouses under King Ferdinand II. In 1923, the current masonry tower replaced the earlier cast-iron structure. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1983, and keepers were withdrawn.

3. Architecture and Materials

The architectural style is early 20th-century utilitarian lighthouse design, with a tapered cylindrical tower and gallery. The materials used are reinforced concrete clad in white stucco, and the lantern house is made of cast iron and glass. The tower height is approximately 92 ft (28 m) above base, and the focal plane is 269 ft (82 m) above sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The optical apparatus is a first-order Fresnel lens (original), with a modern rotating electric beacon installed during the 20th-century upgrade. The light characteristic is Fl (4) W 15 s – four white flashes every 15 seconds. The nominal range is approximately 59 km (32 nmi).

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds around the tower are freely accessible, but the interior and lantern gallery are closed to the public. To reach the lighthouse by car, follow signs for Cabo de São Vicente off the N125 road between Sagres and Vila do Bispo. Parking is available at the cliff edge lookout. A coastal path from the Fortaleza de Sagres runs 1.5 km westward to the lighthouse.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The site offers panoramic Atlantic views and dramatic sunsets, perched on sheer limestone cliffs approximately 75 m above sea level. The rocky coast is a natural reserve, home to seabirds such as shearwaters and local flora adapted to salt-laden winds.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend holds that when the lamp is extinguished on All Hallows’ Eve, the ghosts of shipwrecked sailors can be heard calling for help on the wind. The cape was long known to Phoenician and Roman sailors as Promontorium Sacrum.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the Direção de Faróis, Portuguese Navy, and has an AIS transmitter installed in 2012. A radar reflector array improves visibility in foggy conditions. Chart references include Imray chart G20 (Portuguese Coast) and UKHO Admiralty Chart 2546.

9. Further Information

The Cabo de São Vicente Lighthouse is classified as an Imóvel de Interesse Público (Property of Public Interest) by the Portuguese Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage. UNESCO tentative listing includes the "Landscape of the Sagres Peninsula." For further information, consult the Portuguese Navy – Directorate of Lighthouses website, or visit Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabo_de_S%C3%A3o_Vicente_Lighthouse.