Lighthouse of Cabo Carvoeiro

Lighthouse of Cabo Carvoeiro
*Farol de Cabo Carvoeiro*
	Cabo Carvoeiro in 2015
Location	Peniche, Peniche
Coordinates	39°21′38.4″N9°24′28.1″W / 39.360667°N 9.407806°W Coordinates: 39°21′38.4″N9°24′28.1″W / 39.360667°N 9.407806°W
Tower
Constructed	1893
Construction	1-story stone lighthouse
Height	27 feet (8.2 m)
Shape	square tower
Markings	white tower with cornerstones
Power source	mains electricity
Operator	Directorate for Lighthouses; (Direcção de Faróis)
Heritage	Unclassified
Light
Focal height	57 feet (17 m)
Lens	3rd order Fresnel lens
Range	13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi)
Characteristic	Fl.R period 6s, fl. 2s, ec. 4s
Portugal no.	PT-143

Last updated April 04, 2022

The Lighthouse of Cabo Carvoeiro (Portuguese : Farol do Cabo Carvoeiro) is an active lighthouse in the civil parish of Peniche, municipality of the same name, in the Portuguese district of Leiria.

History

On 1 February 1758, the lighthouse was ordered constructed by regal charter.^[1] Cabo Carvoeiro is a prominent cape along the southern Portuguese coast, with a coastal beacon operating for four centuries from the promontory, first from the chapel of Nossa Senhora de Vitória (before it was demolished).^[1]

The first purpose-built structure was a 21 metres (69 ft) tall lighthouse that started to operate in 1790, but identified as inadequate by an 1881 commission.^[1] In 1865, the lighthouse was described in this form:

...it is found at an elevation of 55.52 metres. The light is white and fixed, produced by sixteen Argand with parabolic reflectors. The range exceeds about 9 miles. The lantern where this mechanism was installed has a 8.24 metre height and eight faces with a width of 1.67 metre...The building where the lantern is a rectangular tower, is constructed of masonry with cornerstones. Alongside the tower are lodgings for lighthouse keepers, offices and pantries e, linking theses buildings is a church in ruins (called the Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória, over which there used to be a light, to guide navigators before the lighthouse existed). The power source was olive oil.^[1]

But, by 1886, it was completely remodelled, under the direction and project of Polycarpo Lima. This included the installation of a petrol lamp to illuminate the beacon.^[1]

In 1923 the fixture was substituted for a giant fourth-order optical lens, and operated by clockwork mechanical system, resulting in a system of four red flashes, separated in 10 seconds intervals.^[1]

The light was substituted in 1947 by gas lamp.^[1] Between 1947 and 1949, the Comissão Administrativa das Novas Instalações para a Marinha (Navy New Installations Administrative Commission), later the Direcção de Faróis (Directorate for Lighthouses) constructed the lighthouse keepers residences.^[1]

By 1952, the beacon began to operate by electricity.^[1]

The lighthouse required large modifications by 1981, in order to receive a new lens, as indicated by reports of the Comissão de Faróis e Balizas (Lighthouse and Beacons Commission).^[1] The General Plan projected had a white third-order light that could illuminate a 315º range and support a 17 miles (27 km) range.^[1] A red beacon was substituted when the lighthouse along Cabo Mondego was not changed, maintaining a fixed white lamp, then groups of two clarions.^[1] By 1988, the lighthouse was automated, with the optics removed and its place replaced by a PRB46 rotating panel, that emitted three, red flashes, with 15 second interval and 15 nautical miles (28 km) range.^[1] Its contemporary role is much less important, with the red beacon being used to guide ships on their approach to the nearby fishing port of Peniche.^[1]

Architecture

Building constructed to assist maritime navigation that included a permanent residence for the lighthouse keeper, the lighthouse is situated 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the Peniche waterfront over a promontory.

The 27 metres (89 ft) high square tower is constructed with cornerstones and parapets painted in white, alongside a rectangular annex building. The tower with lantern and gallery rises from the base of a U-shaped one-story keeper's complex. The buildings are painted white with unpainted stone trim, while the lantern is painted red.

The illumination system consists of a rotating optical lens over a pedestal, using a white light with 15 nautical miles (28 km) range at 57 metres (187 ft) overall height. There is also a fog horn sounding one 10 second blast every 35 seconds.

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References

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Costa, Patrícia; Matias, Cecília (2008), SIPA (ed.), FFarol do Cabo Carvoeiro (IPA.00016894/PT031014040027) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, archived from the original on 18 August 2016, retrieved 27 July 2016

Sources

Relatório da Actividade do Ministério no Triénio de 1947 a 1949 (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Ministério das Obras Públicas, 1950
Callixto, Carlos (1 February 1980), "A Igreja, o Forte e o Farol do Cabo Carvoeiro", Revista da Marinha (in Portuguese)
Vilhena, João Francisco; Louro, Maria Regina (1995), Faróis de Portugal (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal

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[SIPA-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Costa, Patrícia; Matias, Cecília (2008), SIPA (ed.), FFarol do Cabo Carvoeiro (IPA.00016894/PT031014040027) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, archived from the original on 18 August 2016, retrieved 27 July 2016

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