Cabo Sardão Lighthouse

The Cabo Sardão Lighthouse is located at Ponta do Cavaleiro in the village of Odemira, in the parish of São Teotónio, at the westernmost point of the Alentejo region of Portugal.

Cabo Sardão Lighthouse
Farol do Cabo Sardão

Location	Odemira, São Teotónio, Alentejo, Portugal
Coordinates	37°35′55″N 8°48′58″W
Year first lit	1915
Automated	1980
Tower shape	quadrangular
Tower height	17 metres (56 ft)
Focal height	68 metres (223 ft)
Current lens	Third-order Fresnel 500mm
Light source	Electricity
Intensity	1000 watt
Range	23 nautical miles
Characteristic	Fl (3) W 15s
Admiralty number	D-2164
NGA number	113-3604
ARLHS number	POR-014[1]
Portugal number	426
Heritage	heritage without legal protection

The lighthouse consists of a white quadrangular masonry tower, topped by a red cylindrical lantern. There is also a lengthy annex building, together with small staff quarters. Unusually, the tower is built on the land side of the annex, whereas others of similar design in Portugal have the tower on the sea side. This has given rise to the belief that the builder may have rotated the plans by 180 degrees by accident.[2] The tower is 17 metres (56 ft) meters high. Its construction was first proposed and approved in 1883. However, no action was taken until a Lighthouse Commission was formed in 1902 and operations only began on 15 April 1915. The lighthouse was electrified in 1950, with the installation of generators, at which time the light source was changed from petroleum gas to a 3000 watt bulb. It was connected to the public distribution network in 1984. The power of the light source was reduced and a 1000-watt bulb was installed.[3]

While the lighthouse can today be easily reached by car and is next to a popular viewpoint, particularly for ornithologists, until the 1950s the delivery of mail had to be carried out by a courier, involving a return trip on foot of more than 20 kilometers along an almost impassable path.