Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse

Category: Civil Architecture > Lighthouse

District: Faro > Lagos > São Gonçalo de Lagos > Ponta da Piedade

Location

The Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse is located at the westernmost point of the promontory of the same name, in the parish of São Gonçalo de Lagos, municipality of Lagos. Its elevated position, atop dramatic ochre-toned cliffs, provides it with a natural setting of great beauty. From this location, it is possible to have a wide view of the Atlantic Ocean, stretching to the horizon.

A Historical Legacy

Inaugurated on July 1, 1913, the Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse is a structure that, though relatively recent, is part of a longer history of the site. For centuries, the promontory was a point of great significance. Before the lighthouse was built, the Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Hermitage of Our Lady of Piedade) stood on this very spot, a 16th-century sanctuary of considerable importance to the fishermen of Lagos, who regarded her as their patron saint. The construction of the lighthouse necessitated the demolition of this hermitage, a fact that demonstrates the continuous relevance of this cape to maritime life and the local community.

The Architectural Guardian of the Sea

The lighthouse structure consists of a square-plan tower, built in masonry. Notable features include its stonework quoins and the exterior cladding of yellow tiles, topped by a red metallic dome. Flanking the tower are two single-story buildings, which originally served as housing for the lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse's light, situated at an altitude of 51 meters, is accessible via a spiral metal staircase inside the tower, forming a building that combines the solidity of its function with aesthetic details.

The Guiding Light

Since its commissioning, the Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse has been an essential reference point for coastal navigation in the Algarve. Initially, its light was produced by an oil lamp, but it was modernized over time. In 1952, the lighthouse was electrified, and later, in 1983, it became fully automated. Currently, its lantern emits a single white flash, with a seven-second period, and its luminous range reaches approximately 20 nautical miles.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt