Farol de Aveiro

Dating from 1879, the Aveiro lighthouse project was designed by engineer Paulo Benjamim Cabral. The work was first directed by engineer Silvério Pereira da Silva and later by engineer José Maria de Mello e Matos. It began operating in 1893, when a 1st order Fresnel lenticular apparatus was installed, producing groups of 4 flashes. The light source was incandescent petroleum vapor, and the optics were rotated by a watchmaking machine. Over time, it underwent several remodelling’s, both in terms of infrastructure and energy and light source. The optical apparatus was replaced in 1947 with an identical 3rd order, small model (375mm focal length). It was connected to the public power grid in 1950 and in 1958 a lift was installed to access the tower. It was presented on the cover of the December 1987 Bulletin of the International Maritime Signalling Association. It was automated in 1990.