Lighthouses of the Azores

The Azores (Açores in Portuguese) are an archipelago of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean roughly 1500 km (900 miles) west of Lisbon. The islands fall naturally into three groups: Santa Maria and São Miguel in the east; Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa, and Terceira in the center; and Corvo and Flores in the west. Corvo and Flores are peaks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which reaches the surface in only a few places. The Azores were discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 1430s, and Portuguese settlers began arriving in 1439. Administratively, the islands are organized as an autonomous region of Portugal.

The Portuguese word for a lighthouse is farol, plural faróis. Lighthouses in Portugal are owned by the navy (Marinha de Portugal) and operated by the navy's lighthouse directorate (Direcção de Faróis).

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.

General Sources
Faróis de Portugal
From August 2003 through July 2006, the Portuguese Navy's magazine Revista da Armada profiled a Portuguese lighthouse each month. This page has links to the individual articles.
Azores Island Lighthouses and Beacons
Sample photos from a book by Eduardo Furtado.
Leuchttürme Portugals auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images collected by Klaus Huelse.

Farol de Carapacho
Farol de Carapacho, Graciosa, July 2007
anonymous Wikipedia Creative Commons photo
Ilha de Santa Maria Lighthouses
Gonçalo Velho
1927. Active; focal plane 114 m (374 ft); three white flashes every 13.5 s. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Building painted white, lantern red. Alexander Trabas has a photo of the lighthouse in action, a nice 2007 photo is available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The keeper's complex was expanded in 1934 and again in 1955. Gonçalo Velho Cabral, one of the explorers dispatched by Prince Henry the Navigator, spotted the Formigos rocks in 1431 and returned in 1432 to discover the Ilha de Santa Maria at this spot. Located atop the Ponta do Castelo, a spectacular promontory at the southeastern tip of the Ilha de Santa Maria. Site and tower closed, although the light station can be viewed from a distance. ARLHS AZO-009; Admiralty D2632; NGA 23664.
Vila do Porto (Ponta do Malmerendo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 6 m (20 ft) square tower with gallery. Lighthouse painted white with red trim. Nuno Sousa has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Vila do Porto, on the southwestern side of the Ilha de Santa Maria, is the only protected harbor on the island. Located atop a promontory on the west side of the entrance to the harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty D2636; NGA 23668.
Ilhéus Formigas
1948. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two white flashes every 12 s. 19 m (62 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red. Furtado has posted a tiny photo, and Tim Bergman has a distant view. The Ilhéus Formigas (formigas means "ants" in Portuguese) are small rocky islets located about 45 km (28 mi) northeast of the Ilha de Santa Maria. It was here, in 1431, that land was first sighted in the Azores. A lighthouse was proposed as early as 1883, but the difficulties of building on these remote rocks was too great. The task was finally done in a remarkable 36-day project in the summer of 1948. Located on the largest of the islets, a rock about 180 m by 40 m (roughly 200 yd by 40 yd). Inaccessible. Site and tower closed. ARLHS AZO-001; Admiralty D2638; NGA 23704.

Ilha de São Miguel Lighthouses
Note: The Ilha de São Miguel is the largest of the Azores, roughly 90 km (56 mi) long and 15 km (9 mi) wide. Ponta Delgada, the principal town, is also the largest town in the islands.
* Ponta do Arnel
1876. Active; focal plane 66 m (217 ft); white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal cylindrical stone tower rising from the center of a 1-story keeper's house. 3° Fresnel lens. Building painted white; lantern painted red. Patrick Larrede's photo is at right, Luis Praia Meco has also posted a fine closeup, and Carlos Bettencourt has an excellent view of the light station, and Google has a satellite view. This was first lighthouse built in the Azores; it is the traditional landfall light for ships arriving from mainland Portugal. The keeper's complex was greatly expanded in 1929. Located at the eastern tip of the Ilha de São Miguel; accessible by a paved but challenging road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-004; Admiralty D2640; NGA 23636.
* Ponta da Garça
1957. Active; focal plane 101 m (331 ft); light 2 s on, 3 s off, white or red depending on direction. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with eight ribs, lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's complex. The tower is unpainted white concrete; lantern dome painted red. J. Fernando has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at Ponta da Garça on the south side of the island, about 40 km (25 mi) east of Ponta Delgada. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-012; Admiralty D2642; NGA 23628.
* Varadouro (Vila Franca do Campo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red light, 2 s on, 3 s off. Round cylindrical tower mounted on a waterfront building. The light appears at the extreme right of this photo of the waterfront. Located directly on the waterfront of Vila Franca do Campo, a village about 32 km (20 mi) east of Ponta Delgada. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-023; Admiralty D2643.4; NGA 23616.
Farol da Ponta do Arnel
Farol da Ponta do Arnel, June 2008
Creative Commons photo by Patrick Larrede
* Ponta Delgada Breakwater (2)
Date unknown (station established 1900). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light, 2 s on, 1 s off. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. ARLHS has a photo, Duarte Sousa has a good closeup, the light is featured on a 1996 postage stamp, and Google has a satellite view. Huelse has a historic postcard view of the original lighthouse, a cast iron tourelle. Located at the end of the breakwater at Ponta Delgada. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-029; Admiralty D2647; NGA 23584.
* Santa Clara
1945. Active; focal plane 27 m (88 ft); white light, 2 s on, 3 s off. 8 m (26 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a square concrete base. Lighthouse painted red. Filipe Franco has a good photo, ARLHS also has a closeup photo, the light is featured on a 1996 postage stamp, and Google has a satellite view. Located inside a square concrete enclosure on a promontory 800 m (1/2 mi) west of the Ponta Delgada waterfront. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-021; Admiralty D2654; NGA 23580.
* Ferraria
1901. Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 18 m (59 ft) square cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house. Building painted white with unpainted stone trim; lantern dome painted red. A photo is at right, Alexander Trabas has a fine panoramic view, ARLHS has an excellent closeup photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This handsome lighthouse stands at the western tip of the Ilha de São Miguel. Located atop a cliff near Ginetes; accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-008; Admiralty D2655; NGA 23568.
* Rabo de Peixe
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 59 m (194 ft); green light occulting once every 4 s. 28 m (92 ft) square masonry tower of a church, the Igreja do Bom Jesus. A view from the sea is available, Ruben Farias has a similar view, the light can be seen on the gallery railing at the top of the tower in Vitor Oliveira's closeup, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located overlooking the sea in the village of Rabo de Peixe about 5 km (3 mi) west of Ribeira Grande on the north coast of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D2657; NGA 23652.
* Ponta do Cintrão
1957. Active; focal plane 118 m (387 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with eight ribs, lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's complex. Tower is unpainted white concrete; lantern dome painted red. Sibling of the Ponta da Garça Light (see above). Gilda Pontes has posted a good photo, ARLHS has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a peninsula on the central north coast of the island, about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Ribeira Grande. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-017; Admiralty D2659; NGA 23640.
Farol da Ferraria
Farol da Ferraria, July 2007
anonymous Creative Commons photo

Ilha Terceira Lighthouses
Note: Terceira ("Third") was the third island to be discovered. Many Americans know it as the location of Lajes Field, a U.S. Air Force Base.
Praia de Vitória South Mole
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with eight ribs, painted white with narrow horizontal red bands. A photo and an aerial view are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the rubblestone south mole at Praia de Vitória on the east side of the Ilha de Terceira. Accessible only by boat, but there are good views from shore. Site and tower closed. ARLHS AZO-027; Admiralty D2662.5; NGA 23525.
* Ponta das Contendas
1934. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); four flashes every 15 s, white or red depending on direction. 13 m (43 ft) square masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story keeper's complex. Lighthouse painted white; lantern painted red. A photo is at right, Roberto Enes has a good photo, the light is featured on a 1996 postage stamp, and Google has a satellite view. The 75th anniversary of the light station was celebrated in 2009. Located at the southeastern tip of the Ilha de Terceira. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-007; Admiralty D2664; NGA 23532.
* Angra do Heroismo Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); red flash every 4 s. 20 m (66 ft) square church tower, painted light blue and white. The light is said to be mounted on the east tower of the Igreja (church) da Misericórdia. A good photo of the church is available, and also a closeup of the facade, but the light cannot be seen. The rear light is supposedly on a "yellow metal structure," 140 m (460 ft) northwest. This could be the Obelisco da Memória, a yellow and white memorial obelisk on the hill behind the town: but again no light can be seen in the photo. The church is centered in a Google satellite view. Located in downtown Angra do Heroismo, on the central southern coast of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D2666.2; NGA 23544.

Farol da Ponta das Contendas; Marinha de Portugal photo
* Serrata (Ponta da Queimado) (2)
About 1981 (1885 lighthouse relocated from the mainland; this station established 1908). Active; focal plane 96 m (315 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern red. A good photo is available, and Google has a satellite view of the station. This lighthouse appears to be a prefabricated French tourelle. Lighthouse Explorer has a photo by Jim Crockett of the original lighthouse at Serrata, which was was destroyed by an earthquake in 1980. The Navy then relocated to this station the historic lighthouse of Cacilhas, across the Tagus from Lisbon. Residents of Cacilhas have protested the removal and the Navy has agreed in principle to return the lighthouse to its original site. As of April 2006 this had not happened. Located on the Ponta da Queimado, a steep promontory at the northwestern tip of the island. Site status unknown, probably open; tower closed. ARLHS AZO-022; Admiralty D2668; NGA 23504.

Ilha Graciosa Lighthouses
* Carapacho
1956. Active; focal plane 191 m (627 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with eight ribs, lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's complex. Tower is unpainted white concrete; lantern dome painted red. A photo is at the top of this page, another excellent closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Sibling of the Ponta da Garça and Ponta do Cintrão Lights on the Ilha de São Miguel. Located on the Ponta do Carapacho, the southeastern tip of the island. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-006; Admiralty D2670; NGA 23484.
* Fort do Santo (Santa Cruz da Graciosa)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 4 s. 6 m (20 ft) red tower. This is possibly a cast iron tower mounted on the walls of the fort, but no photo is available. The lighthouse is probably centered in this Google satellite view. Located in Santa Cruz da Graciosa, on the north coast of the island. Site probably open, tower closed. Admiralty D2674; NGA 23488.
* Ponta da Barca
1930. Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); white flash every 7 s. 23 m (75 ft) round concrete (?) tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story keeper's complex. Lighthouse painted with horizontal black and white bands, lantern painted red. A photo is at right, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The light station was repaired after being damaged by a severe thunderstorm in 1978. Located on a sharp rocky promontory at the northwestern tip of the island, about 7 km (4.5 mi) west of Santa Cruz da Graciosa. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-011; Admiralty D2676; NGA 23500.
Farol da Ponta da Barca
Farol da Ponta da Barca, July 2007
anonymous Wikipedia Creative Commons photo

Ilha de São Jorge Lighthouses
* Topo
1927. Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Building painted white with black trim, lantern red. The original 3° Fresnel lens was removed after being damaged in an earthquake in 1980. A photo is at right, Ana Nunes Pedro has a photo, and Roberto Enes has a distant view. Located at the eastern tip of the island; accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-018; Admiralty D2680; NGA 23480.
* Calheta Pierhead
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 3 s. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. A distant photo is available, but the tower is inconspicuous in a Google satellite view. Located on the waterfront of Calheta, on the south coast of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D2681.2; NGA 23477.
* Cais das Velas (Velas Wharf)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. Domingos Lourenço has a view from the sea, a distant photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main pier on the waterfront of Velas, on the southwest coast of the island. Admiralty D2682.2; NGA 23456.
* Velas Anchorage Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); red light occulting once every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) chapel, the Ermida do Livramento; the light is mounted near the peak of the facade. The chapel is painted white with black trim. A photo shows the light in action, and another photo is available. Located on the west side of Velas. Admiralty D2682.5; NGA 23464.
Farol de Topo
Farol de Topo, June 2007
anonymous Wikipedia Creative Commons photo
* Ponta dos Rosais
Date unknown (almost certainly 1957 or thereabouts). Long inactive, but reactivated in 2005 (?); focal plane 259 m (850 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 27 m (89 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with eight ribs and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's complex. Lantern removed. The building is unpainted white concrete. Domingos Laurenço has a 2008 closeup photo, a distant view is available, there are two photos of the lighthouse in silhouette, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. The latter two silhouetted photos are captioned "Farol Inactivo dos Rosais." However, in Laurenço's photo it appears that there may be a light displayed from a short mast atop the capped tower, and the Admiralty Notices to Mariners for 10 January 2006 announced a light at Ponta dos Rosais. Located atop the Ponta dos Rosais, a spectacular, needle-sharp point at the western end of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-019; Admiralty D2683; NGA 23448.

Ilha do Pico Lighthouses
Note: Pico is dominated by (and named for) a beautiful conical volcano that last erupted in 1720. The volcano has an elevation of 2351 m (7713 ft).
* Ponta da Ilha
1946. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 19 m (62 ft) robust square masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story keeper's house complex. Building painted white with dark brown trim; lantern painted red. A good photo is available, also a second photo, there is a closeup of the lantern, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the eastern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-013; Admiralty D2690; NGA 23404.
Ponta do São Mateus
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete (?) tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a circular concrete base. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Amateur radio operator CS5E has posted a small photo, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on a promontory about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) southeast of São Mateus on the southwest coast of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS AZO-024; Admiralty D2691; NGA 23380.
* Madalena North Mole
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red light occulting once every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. A closeup photo and another good photo are available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater on the waterfront of Madalena, near the northwestern tip of the island. Good view from ferries arriving from Horta on Faial. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-028; Admiralty D2687.2; NGA 23360.

Ilha do Faial Lighthouses
Note: The island of Faial is the top of an active volcano and has been the site of many earthquakes. Both of the traditional light stations on the island have been destroyed by this restless geology.
* Ribeirinha (1)
1919. Inactive since 1998. 14 m (46 ft) square masonry tower with gallery, formerly attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lantern removed. The building was painted white with unpainted stone trim; the base of the former lantern is still painted red. João Gandra has an excellent closeup, a second photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Damaged by an earthquake in 1973, and then severely damaged by another earthquake on 9 July 9 1998, the lighthouse now stands uneasily amid the ruins of the keeper's house. The active light (three white flashes every 20 s) is on a metal post at a focal plane of 132 m (433 ft). Located about 3 km (2 mi) east of Ribeirinha at the northeastern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-020; Admiralty D2692; NGA 23344.
* Horta Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); red flash every 3 s. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower with enclosed watch room, lantern, and gallery, mounted a large circular concrete pier at the end of the breakwater. Tower painted white, lantern red. Alex Kakuako has a good photo, Steve Arnold has a nice panoramic view with Pico in the background, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater at Horta, the principal port of Faial, near the southeastern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-026; Admiralty D2694; NGA 23320.
* Vale Formoso
Late 1950s. Active; focal plane 114 m (374 ft); two long (2 s) white flashes every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with gallery and a small modern lantern. Lighthouse painted white; lantern and gallery rail are red. Jack Dodge has posted a good photo. This plain modern lighthouse was built to replace the destroyed Capelinhos lighthouse, which is about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest. Located near Capelo on the south side of the island's western peninsula. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-025; Admiralty D2699; NGA 23348.
* Capelinhos
1903. Inactive since 1957. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal stone tower with gallery, rising from a 2-story keeper's house. Lantern removed. Ulrich Thumult's photo is at right, Jack Dodge has posted a good photo, another good photo is available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Built to mark the western tip of Faial, the lighthouse was swamped by volcanic ash in a volcanic eruption that began on 16 September 1957. The eruption began offshore and eventually extended the island westward about 1 km (0.6 m). The first floor of the building remains buried in ash. In 2005, the Azores government announced plans to develop a visitor center and museum in the abandoned lighthouse. The lantern was installed early in 2006, but there doesn't seem to have been any other activity. The eruption area is protected as a regional natural monument. Located about 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Capelo. Site open, tower closed.
Capelinhos Lighthouse
Farol de Capelinhos, August 2006
Creative Commons photo by Ulrich Thumult

Ilha das Flores Lighthouses
* Lajes
1910. Active; focal plane 99 m (325 ft); four white flashes every 28 s. 16 m (52 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a long 1-story keeper's house. 2° (?) Fresnel lens. Building painted white with a red tile roof; lantern painted red. A good photo is available, João Paulino also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This is the landfall light for ships arriving in Flores from Portugal. Located atop a vertical cliff at the southeastern point of the island, about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of Lajes das Flores. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-015; Admiralty D2704; NGA 23288.
* Albarnaz
1925. Active; focal plane 104 m (341 ft); white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. 2nd order Fresnel lens. Building painted white; lantern painted red. João Paulino has a good photo, a closeup of the tower and a closeup of the lantern are available, Huelse has a historic photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a vertical cliff at the northwestern point of the island, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) west of Ponta Delgada. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AZO-016; Admiralty D2708; NGA 23316.

Farol da Ponta das Lajes; Marinha de Portugal photo

Ilha do Corvo Lighthouse
* [Ponta Negra]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 5 s. 4 m (13 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. Maria Ana Dionisio has a photo, a second photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. There are two old windmills (moinhos) near the lighthouse. Corvo is the smallest and most remote of the islands, about 35 km (22 mi) north northeast of Flores. Located at the southern point of the island, adjacent to the island's airstrip. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D2712; NGA 23280.
Canto da Carneira
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 238 m (781 ft); white flash every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, painted with horizontal red and white bands. Amateur radio operator CT1BWW has posted a small photo. Located at the northeastern point of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS AZO-005; Admiralty D2714; NGA 23284.
 

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted December 29, 2005. Checked and revised March 26, 2009. Lighthouses: 33. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.