Lighthouses of Northern Portugal

Facing the Atlantic Ocean at the southwestern corner of Europe, Portugal (officially the Portuguese Republic, República Portuguesa) has a very distinguished maritime history. Portuguese sailors launched and led the European age of discovery and Portuguese ships have been returning home from the far corners of the globe for about 600 years. It's not surprising that lighthouses have played an important role in Portuguese culture and that they are treasured national monuments today.

This page has information on the lighthouses of the northern section of the Portuguese mainland (the districts from Coimbra northward). The part of this region north of Porto is called the Costa Verde (Green Coast), and the part south of Porto is called the Costa de Prata (Coast of Silver). There are separate pages for Central Portugal and for Southern Portugal. Lighthouses of the Azores and Madeira (islands discovered and settled by the early Portuguese explorers) are also on separate pages.

The Portuguese word for a lighthouse is farol, plural faróis; a small lightbeacon is often called a farolim. In Portuguese ilha is an island, ilhéu is an islet, cabo is a cape, ponta is a promontory or point of land, rocha or penedo is a rock, recife is a reef, baía is a bay, estreito is a strait, rio is a river, and porto is a port or harbor.

Formerly owned by the Navy, the lighthouses in Portugal are now operated by the Lighthouse Directorate (Direção de Faróis), an agency of the National Maritime Authority (Autoridade Marítima Nacional).

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. PT numbers are from the Portuguese Navy list, as recorded by Portuguese Wikipedia. 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
Faroís
Lighthouse information from the Direção de Faróis.
Online List of Lights: Portugal
A large collection of photos posted by Alexander Trabas.
Lighthouses in Portugal
Excellent aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Faróis de Portugal
Portuguese Wikipedia article on the country's lighthouses. Near the bottom of the page are links to pages for the individual lighthouses. The photos are also available in Wikimedia's Lighthouses in Portugal category.
World of Lighthouses - Portugal
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Phares d'Europe
Photos posted by Alain Guyomard and Robert Carceller.
Lighthouses of Portugal
Historic postcard images collected by Michel Forand.
Leuchttürme Portugals auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images collected by Klaus Huelse.
GPSNauticalCharts
Navigational chart information for Portugal.
Navionics Charts
Navigational chart for Portugal.

Farol de Aveiro
Aveiro Light, Aveiro, February 2011
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Jorge Farinha

Coimbra District Lighthouses

Figueira da Foz Lighthouses
* Figueira da Foz North Mole
Date unknown (1968?). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red light, 1.5 s on, 4.5 s off. 7 m (23 ft) round conical tower with a flared top, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has José Da Palma's photo, a 2016 photo is available, Ygor Durães has a 2022 photo showing the tower in need of paint, Gilberto Silva has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The breakwater was extended in 2010-11, and the light was relocated to the new end of the pier. Located at the end of the breakwater on the north side of the entrance to the Rio Mondego at Figueira da Foz. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-071; PT-108; Admiralty D2066; NGA 3296.
* Figueira da Foz (Forte de Santa Catarina)
1886. Inactive since 1968. Approx. 10m (33 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Paulo Azevedo has a photo, a second photo showing the fort is available, Wikimedia has a closeup by João Campos, N. Prata has a 2023 photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Another example of a French prefabricated tourelle. Probably still in service as a daybeacon, this lighthouse is located within the walls of the late 16th century Forte de Santa Catarina, on the north side of the entrance to the Rio Mondego at Figueira da Foz. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS POR-073.
* Cabo Mondego (Boa Viagem) (1)
1865. Inactive since 1922. Ruined octagonal stone tower; the stump of the tower is about 4 m (13 ft) high. Rogério Aquino has a 2016 closeup photo, Jose Carlos Gago has a 2021 photo, and Google has a good street view and a satellite view. This lighthouse was built in 1858 by the engineer Francisco Maria Pereira da Silva, but it was not activated until 1 August 1865. Located atop a steep bluff on the Rua Farol Velho, about 1.6 km (1 mi) south of the modern lighthouse. Site open, tower closed.
** Cabo Mondego (Boa Viagem) (2)
1922 (station established 1865). Active; focal plane 97 m (318 ft); white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to two 1-story keeper's houses. Building painted white with gray trim; lantern painted red. Fog horn (one blast every 30 s). Trabas has a good photo, a 2014 photo is available, Mauricio Ferreira da Costa has a 2022 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a postcard view that shows the design of the building well, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Boa viagem is the Portuguese equivalent of bon voyage; the heights of the ridge of that name, rising suddenly above the low shore to the north, were often the last land seen by departing sailors. Located on the western end of a forested ridge protected as the Parque Florestal da Serra da Boa Viagem, about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Figueira da Foz. Site open, lighthouse open on Wednesday afternoons. . ARLHS POR-010; PT-102; Admiralty D2060; NGA 3284.
Cabo Mondego Light
Cabo Mondego Light, Figueira da Foz, June 2007
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo
by Adrião

Aveiro District Lighthouses

Aveiro Lighthouses
Aveiro South Mole (Range Front)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) round, bluntly conical tower with a cylindrical extension and gallery but no lantern, painted with green and white horizontal bands. Trabas has José Da Palma's photo, Eduardo Marques has a closeup, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This light also serves as the front light of an approach range for Aveiro, with the main lighthouse (previous entry) as the rear light. Located at the end of the mole. Site and tower closed. ARLHS POR-085; PT-096; Admiralty D2056.1 (ex-D2058); ex-NGA 3280.
** Aveiro (Barra) (Range Rear)
1893. Active; focal plane 66 m (217 ft); four white flashes every 13 s; in addition a green flash every 4 s is displayed at 54 m (177 ft). 62 m (203 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 2-story keeper's house. 3rd order Fresnel lens (1937). Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands; lantern painted red. A photo by Jorge Farinha is at the top of this page, Trabas has Eckhard Meyer's photo, Renata Freitas has a 2022 photo, Wikimedia has several photos, Guyomard and Carceller have photos by José Alves, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is the tallest Portuguese lighthouse. Standing directly on a barrier beach, it is exposed to Atlantic storms. A great storm in 1935 swept away the fog signal building (seen in Huelse's historic postcard view), and sea walls have now been built to protect the lighthouse. The lighthouse remains endangered by rising sea level. The tower is unusual in having a elevator, installed in 1958, that rises through the middle of the spiral stairway. Located on the south side of the entrance to the Ria de Aveiro in Barra, the seaside neighborhood of Aveiro. Site open; lighthouse open on Wednesday afternoons. . ARLHS POR-101; PT-095; Admiralty D2056; NGA 3272.
* Forte da Barra (Canal de Mira Range Rear)
Date unknown (1980s?). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); green flash every 3 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round tower with rounded top and gallery, painted white with narrow black horizontal bands. The light is displayed from a post mounted on the gallery. A photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, Diogo Magalhães Crespo has a photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This tower was built early in the 1800s as a signal tower. There is no evidence it was used as a lighthouse until the range light was installed, sometime between 1967 and 1987. The range guides vessels within the harbor. The tower is built within the walls of the ancient Forte da Barra de Aveiro. The front light is on a short concrete tower painted green with a red horizontal band (Portugal's national colors). Located near the harbor in Gafanha da Nazaré. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-084; PT-096.45; Admiralty D2059.1.

Forte da Barra Light, Aveiro, 2006
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by LeonardoG
Aveiro Entrance Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red light occulting once every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. The Admiralty lists the light as having orange and green horizontal bands, but Trabas has José da Palma's photo showing the tower with orange and yellow bands. Google has a satellite view. This is primarily a leading light, visible only within 2.5° of the lien of entrance. The front light is on a short post. Located in a barren wetland area on the north side of the entrance. Site status unknown. PT-094.2; Admiralty D2056.21.
Aveiro North Mole
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 3 s. 6 m (20 ft) round, bluntly conical tower with gallery but no lantern, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has José da Palmas' photo, Frank Giesen has a closeup 2023 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The north mole is the main breakwater for Aveiro. Located at the end of the mole. Site and tower closed. ARLHS POR-002; Admiralty D2057; NGA 3271.

Porto District Lighthouses

Porto is the second largest city of Portugal with a metropolitan population of about 1.7 million.

Porto Lighthouses
Praia da Aguda
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); two red flashes every 8 s. 8 m (26 ft) round stepped-pyramidal concrete tower painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has Eckhard Meyer's photo, José Costa has a photo, Gilson Poerschke has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view and a very distant street view from the beach. Located at the end of a groin at the Aguda beach, about 8 km (5 mi) south of the Rio Douro entrance. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D2050.
Rio Douro South Mole
2009. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 5 s. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) triangular cylindrical concrete tower, painted with green and white horizontal bands. Trabas has José Da Palma's photo, Mary Diversões has a photo, Loly Mato Pedrido has a 2022 photo, Carlos Sousa Pereira has a street view from the north mole, and Google has a satellite view. The breakwater moles at the entrance to the Rio Douro were rebuilt in 2008-09, and new lights were required. Located at a new transverse mole on the south side of the estuary entrance. Site status unknown. Admiralty D2045; NGA 3253.
* [Cantareira (Range Front)]
1915. Inactive since 2009. 6 m (20 ft) post with a gallery and a small lantern. Tower painted with horizontal red and white bands. A Google street view is at right, Nickie Gaul has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located beside the Rua do Passeio Alegre on the old breakwater mole on the north side of the Douro (Rio do Ouro) entrance, just off the waterfront. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-069; ex-PT-083; ex-Admiralty D2048; ex-NGA 3256.
** São Miguel o Anjo
1527. Inactive. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical stone tower attached to a 1-story stone chapel. Nickie Gaul has a photo and Google has a satellite view. This ancient lighthouse was built on the order of Miguel da Silva, abbot of the Bendictine monastery of Santo Tirso, to improve navigation across the bar of the Douro and help develop Porto as a commercial rival to Lisbon in trade with the Orient and with northern Europe. The building, constructed by the Italian engineer Francesco de Cremona, is certainly Portugal's oldest lighthouse and one of the few lighthouses surviving from the early days of European expansion and discovery. The tower was restored in 2019 as the headquarters of the national lifeguard service, the Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos. Google's July 2020 street view at right shows the results. Located beside the Rua do Passeio Alegre on the old breakwater mole on the north side of the Douro (Rio do Ouro) entrance, just off the waterfront. Site open, building status uncertain. ARLHS POR-078.
 

São Miguel o Anjo Light, Porto, July 2020
Google Maps street view
 
* Barra da Foz Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); yellow (?) light, 3 s on, 2 s off. Light mounted on the side of the west tower of the church of São João Baptista da Foz. Trabas has Eckhard Meyer's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The front range light is on a post on the riverfront. This is the entrance range for the Rio Douro. The lights are listed as yellow but appear red in the photos. Located on the Largo da Igreja behind the park Jardim do Passeio Alegre. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D2047.1; NGA 3255.5.
* Rio Douro North Mole
2010. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Kirill Milkus has a 2022 photo, a 2010 photo is available, Trabas has José da Palma's photo, Gabriel Cyr has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the new breakwater mole on the north side of the estuary entrance. Apparently accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D2045.5; NGA 3254.
* Felgueiras (Rio Douro North Breakwater)
1886. Inactive since 2009. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery. Tower unpainted; lantern painted red. Fog horn (two 5 s blasts every 30 s). A photo is at right, a 2014 photo is available, Jeremiasz Koper has a 2022 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Carlos Sousa Pereira has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. The light was replaced by a light at the end of the new north breakwater (previous entry), but the historic lighthouse remains. Located at the end of the original breakwater at the north side of the entrance to the Rio Douro and the traditional harbor of Porto. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS POR-070; ex-PT-082; ex-Admiralty D2046; ex-NGA 3252.
** Senhora da Luz (Porto, Oporto) (2)
1834 (?) (station established 1758). Inactive since 1926(?). 15 m (49 ft) square stone tower, the west tower of the chapel of Nossa Senhora de Luz (Our Lady of the Light); the lantern has been replaced by a pyramidal roof. Lighthouse painted white. A historic photo is available and Google has a satellite view. A small hexagonal tower next to the building is often mistaken for the lighthouse. This light had a focal plane of 53 m (174 ft) and served for nearly a century as the landfall light for Porto. According to the Wikipedia article, the original lighthouse was replaced after being destroyed by lightning in 1814; Findlay's 1879 list gives 1834 as the date of establishment. A 4th order lens was installed in 1865. According to Navy records the light was discontinued after the Leça lighthouse was placed in service in 1926 but there are local accounts that a light was displayed in the early 1940s. Located atop the hill known as Monte da Luz, about 1 km (0.6 mi) north of the Rio Douro entrance in Porto. Site open, tower status unknown.
Farol de Felgueiras
Felgueiras Light, Porto, July 2007
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Bernt Rostad

Matosinhos Lighthouses
Porto de Leixões South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); green flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal masonry tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted; the lantern is painted green. Trabas has a good photo by Helmut Seger, a view from the sea is available, Luis Pires has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater. Site and tower closed. ARLHS POR-095; Admiralty D2036; NGA 3244.
Porto de Leixões Quebra-Mar
Date unknown. Inactive. Approx. 18 m (59 ft) round concrete tower with gallery but no lantern. The tower is unpainted. Trabas has a good photo and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the old north breakwater of the Porto de Leixões, the harbor of the Leça oil terminal. Site and tower closed. ARLHS POR-094; ex-Admiralty D2034; NGA 3240.
** Leça (Boa Nova)
1926. Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); three white flashes every 14 s. 46 m (151 ft) white round reinforced concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted red. The surrounding 2-story keeper's complex was used as the school for lighthouse keepers from 1926 to 1962. A photo is at right, Trabas has a fine closeup photo by José da Palma, Nuno Filipe Coimbra has a good 2006 photo, Jacinta Vilela has a 2022 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a good satellite view. This lighthouse replaced a smaller lighthouse built in 1916 at Boa Nova, a short distance to the north. Located in Leça da Palmeira, on the north side of Matosinhos, adjacent to a huge petroleum tank farm. Site open, lighthouse open on Wednesday afternoons. . ARLHS POR-029; PT-070; Admiralty D2032; NGA 3236.
* [Sobreiras (Range Rear)] (relocated)
1915. Inactive since 2009. 6 m (20 ft) post with a gallery and a small lantern. Tower painted with horizontal red and white bands. The Cantareira (see above) and Sobreiras lights guided vessels entering the Douro and were discontinued when changes to the moles and entrance channel left them useless for navigation. The Sobreiras light was relocated for display at the Leça lighthouse; Larry Myhre has a 2013 photo of the light at its new home. Site open, tower closed. Ex-PT-084; ex-Admiralty D2048.1; ex-NGA 3260.

Vila do Conde Lighthouse
* Azurara Range Rear
Date unknown (daybeacon dates from the 17th century). Active; 27 m (89 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 6 m (20 ft) light mounted atop the gable of a 1-story masonry structure, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a good photo, Jose Carlos Gago has a 2021 photo, and Google has a street view and an indistinct satellite view. The front light is mounted on a post. The range guides ships into the harbor of Vila do Conde. Located somewhere near the Rua da Estrada Velha in Azurara, a neighborhood on the south side of Vila do Conde. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-086; PT-056.1; Admiralty D2023.1; NGA 3200.

Boa Nova Light, Leça da Palmeira, August 2012
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Yellow.Cat

Póvoa de Varzim Lighthouses
* Regufe (São Brás, Póvoa de Varzim Range Rear) (2)
1892. Inactive since 2001; a decorative light has been displayed since 2015. 22 m (72 ft) tripod cast iron tower with lantern, gallery, and central cylinder, painted red. 1-story keeper's house (1917). A photo is at right, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. A 2016 closeup by Sérgio Ferraz shows the lighthouse freshly repainted. Originally the rear light of the Póvoa de Varzim Range, this lighthouse later operated independently. The design of this lighthouse is unique, and the Navy is justified in calling it uma verdadeira relíquia da arte do ferro (a true relic of the art of iron). The only other cast iron tripod lighthouses surviving are the active Cabo San Antonio and Punta Médanos lighthouses in Argentina. The lighthouse was restored and recognized as a historic monument in 1995. It was repainted and reactivated by the municipality in 2015. Located next to a light rail line on the east side of the N13 highway about 600 m (3/8 mi) due east of the front light in Póvoa de Varzim. Site fenced, but the lighthouse is easily seen from close by. Site manager: Câmara Municipal Póvoa de Varzim. ARLHS POR-060; ex-PT-047; ex-Admiralty D2020; ex-NGA 3156.
* [Lapa (Póvoa de Varzim Range Front)]
1857. Inactive since at least the 1960s. The light was established at the church of Nossa Senhora de Lapa. Although the church has what appears to be a lantern at one end, as shown in a Wikipedia photo and a 2007 photo by Feliciano Guimarães, light lists indicate the light was shown atop a skeletal tower next to the church, as seen in a postcard view posted by Huelse. Google has a street view and a satellite view of the church. In 1892 the light became the front light of the Póvoa de Varzim entrance range. The light was deactivated because new breakwaters made the old range line inappropriate. Located on the waterfront at the harbor of Póvoa de Varzim. Site open. ARLHS POR-075.

Regufe Light, Póvoa de Varzim, May 2016
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by PedroPVZ

Braga District Lighthouses

Esposende Lighthouses
* Apúlia Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); red light, 2 s on, 4 s off. Light mounted atop a 4-story beachfront apartment building. Trabas has Eckhard Meyer's photo, Bruno Costa has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The navigational purpose of this range is not clear. The front light is on a post. Located on the waterfront of Apúlia, a resort about 6.5 km (4 mi) south of Esposende. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D2016.21; NGA 3136.
* Esposende (2)
1922 (station established 1866). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, standing on a round concrete base. Adjoining 2-story keeper's complex. Entire lighthouse painted red; keeper's house is yellow. A photo is at right, Trabas has Eckhard Meyer's photo, another closeup is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is a typical prefabriacted French tourelle. The original light was described as an "iron column." The lighthouse stands in front of the Forte São João Baptista. Located on the north side of the Rio Cavado entrance at Esposende. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-018; PT-031; Admiralty D2016; NGA 3128.

Viana do Castelo District Lighthouses

Viana do Castelo Lighthouses
* Rio Neiva (Range Rear)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 4 s on, 2 s off. 7 m (23 ft) post painted with red and white bands and carrying two triangular daymarks painted red with a white border, mounted on a square white concrete equipment building. Trabas has a photo and Google has an indistinct satellite view and a street view from below. Formerly a rear range light, this light was concerted to a leading light in 2015. Located on dunes in a maritime forest preserve about 6 km (3.5 mi) south of the river entrance at Viana do Castelo. Site open, tower closed. PT-028.1; Admiralty D2015.1; NGA 3124.

Esposende Light, Esposende, August 2014
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by HombreDHojalata
* Viana do Castelo Cabadelo Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 10 m (33 ft); green light, pattern unknown. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery but no lantern, painted with green and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a photo, Hans Hansen has a 2022 photo, Jose Viana Lopes has a street view down the breakwater, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater in Viana do Castelo. Accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-100; Admiralty D2012.6.
Viana do Castelo Barra
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); white light occulting once every 4 s. Light mounted on a 2-story square tower attached to the front of a 1-story harbor control building. Trabas has Eckhard Meyer's photo, Miguel Santos has a 2020 photo, Jose Viana Lopes has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the entrance to the inner harbor of Viana do Castelo. Site apparently open, tower closed. PT-024.2; Admiralty D2012.4.
* Forte Santiago da Barra (Castelo de Santiago, Viana do Castelo Range Front)
1888. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted red with narrow white vertical stripes; lantern and gallery painted white. Trabas has a good photo, Joaquim Santos has a 2020 closeup, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Jose Viana Lopes has a street view across the castle walls, and Google has a satellite view. The two Viana do Castelo range lights are typical French tourelles. Located within the walls of the Forte Santiago da Barra on the north side of the Rio Lima entrance in Viana do Castelo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-017; PT-025; Admiralty D2012; NGA 3100.
* Nossa Senhora da Agonia (Viana do Castelo Range Rear)
1888. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); red light, 4 s on, 2 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, mounted atop a large church building. Tower painted red with narrow white vertical stripes; lantern and gallery painted white. Trabas has a photo, Jose Carlos Gago has a 2019 photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located adjacent to the 18th century church of Nossa Senhora da Agonia in Viana do Castelo, about 500 m (0.3 mi) north of the front light. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-054; PT-026; Admiralty D2012.1; NGA 3104.
* Viana do Castelo Outer Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with gallery but no lantern, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a photo, Hugo Mendes has a photo, Marco Bianco has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the long outer breakwater of Viana do Castelo. Accessible in good weather by walking the breakwater (it's a long walk). ARLHS POR-040; Admiralty D2012.8; NGA 3099.
** Montedor
1908. Active; focal plane 103 m (338 ft); two white flashes every 9.7 s. 28 m (92 ft) square stone tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a large 1-story U-shaped stone keeper's complex. 3rd order Fresnel lens. The building is unpainted; lantern painted red. Fog horn (three 2 s blasts every 25 s). A Navy photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, Carlos Olmo Bosco has a closeup, Xantana Rest has a 2021 photo, Huelse has a postcard view that shows the design of the building well, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This northernmost major Portuguese lighthouse is located on a headland at Montedor, just off the coastal N13 highway about 8 km (5 mi) north of Viana do Castelo. Site open, lighthouse open on Wednesday afternoons. . ARLHS POR-037; PT-021; Admiralty D2008; NGA 3096.
Farol de Montedor
Montedor Light, Montedor
Marinha de Portugal photo (no longer online)

Caminha Lighthouse
Ínsua
Date unknown (station established 1886). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); flash every 4 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) 1-story square equipment room with a solar-powered light on a post on the roof. A spiral staircase surrounds the post. Trabas has a photo, Francisco Fernandes has a 2017 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is built within the mid 17th century Fortaleza de Insúa. Huelse has a postcard view of the first light on the fort. Located on a tiny islet on the south side of the entrance to the Rio Minho, which is the border between Spain and Portugal, just off the coastal N13 highway about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southwest of Caminha. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POR-028; PT-010; Admiralty D2002; NGA 3076.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Southern Galicia | South: Central Portugal

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key

Posted December 17, 2005. Checked and revised July 1, 2023. Lighthouses: 30. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.