Farol do Cabo de S. Vicente
In 1515, a tower was built at the Convent of São Vicente, where monks lit a fire to guide navigators. In 1587, privateer Francis Drake destroyed it, and it was only restored in 1606 by King Philip II. After failed attempts, the current lighthouse was ordered by Queen Maria II in 1846, featuring 16 Argand lamps with parabolic reflectors, rotating via clockwork. In 1908, the tower was raised and fitted with a hyper-radiant optic, the largest in Portugal. The light source evolved from oil lamps to petroleum vapor incandescence. Modern upgrades followed: fog signal in 1914, electrification in 1926, aeromaritime panels in 1947, public grid connection in 1948, and a radio beacon in 1949 (deactivated in 2001). In 1982, automation allowed remote control of the Sagres lighthouse. Today, the lighthouse includes a museum center.
VISIT WEBSITELighthouses closest to Farol do Cabo de S. Vicente in the Route:
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