Ponta da Pargo Lighthouse Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Madeira > Calheta > Ponta do Pargo > Ponta

Location

The Ponta da Pargo Lighthouse Museum is located on the westernmost tip of Madeira Island, at Ponta da Vigia, in the parish of Ponta do Pargo, municipality of Calheta. It stands majestically on a cliff, at an altitude of approximately 300 meters, offering a wide perspective over the Atlantic Ocean.

Its privileged position allows for views of the imposing coastal landscape of the extending cliffs, providing a natural setting of great beauty.

History and Heritage

The structure that now houses the museum was originally built in 1922 as a lighthouse, a crucial point for navigation on the Madeiran coast. Over the years, this lighthouse played a vital role in the maritime safety of the region.

Recognizing its intrinsic value, the lighthouse was classified as local heritage of cultural value in 1999, an acknowledgment of its historical and architectural importance to the archipelago.

The Museum Space

In 2001, the lighthouse facilities welcomed a museum core, designed to preserve and share the rich history of maritime signaling in Madeira.

Visitors can explore a variety of original pieces related to the island's lighthouses, complemented by a collection of photographs and historical documentation. Exhibition panels detail the evolution and relevance of lighthouses in the archipelago, centralizing the legacy of these monuments that guided generations of navigators in one location.

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