Farol da Barra
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About
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Why go
- Portugal’s tallest lighthouse at 62 metres, and the Iberian Peninsula’s second tallest.
- Views from the top across Gafanha da Nazaré and the Freita and Caramulo mountains.
- The active white beacon flashes four times every 13 seconds and reaches 23 nautical miles, about 43 kilometres in normal visibility.
Opening hours
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Don't miss
- Tower and keepers’ quartersLook for the broad red-and-white bands on the round stone tower and the two-storey building beneath it, once the keepers’ living quarters.Beside Barra beach
Know before you go
- Visits take place on Wednesdays, 14:00–17:00, in small groups supervised by the lighthouse keeper.
With kids
- For families considering the climb, the internal spiral staircase has 271 stone steps followed by 20 metal steps.
Interesting facts3
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55 metres
The original design called for an octagonal tower 55 metres high.
Phare d'Aveiro - Wikipedia -
When built, it ranked sixth in the world among stone masonry lighthouses.
Farol de Aveiro - Wikipedia -
The original apparatus used a first-order Fresnel lens, with its optics turned by clockwork.
Phare d'Aveiro - Wikipedia
History
Plans for a lighthouse at the lagoon mouth were agreed in 1856. The new lighthouse replaced a smaller one near the fort during the redevelopment and expansion of Aveiro harbour.
- 1858Officials chose to build a dedicated lighthouse after rejecting a plan to convert the signal tower at Fort of Barra.
- 1879–1893Construction ran from 1879 to 1893, initially directed by Silvério Pereira da Silva and subsequently by José Maria de Mello e Matos.
- 1893The lighthouse began operating on 15 October with a sound signal and an incandescent petrol lamp.
- 1929Repairs added wall tiles and 14 concrete columns to reinforce the tower.
- 1935The signal horn was moved inside after a storm swept away its predecessor.
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- 1936A generator electrified the lighthouse.
- 1947A smaller third-order Fresnel lens replaced the optical apparatus.
- 1950The lighthouse connected to the public electricity grid.
- After 1954A sea wall was built to protect the lighthouse following a study of its exposed coastal position.
- 1990The light was automated.
Sources: Lighthouse of Praia da Barra - Wikipedia · Ílhavo - Wikivoyage (see) · Phare d'Aveiro - Wikipedia · Farol de Aveiro - Wikipedia · checked 10 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
Why does Farol da Barra have a fog signal?
It warns ships when fog reduces visibility.
What happened to Farol da Barra’s original signal horn?
A storm swept away its predecessor, so the horn was moved inside in 1935.
How was Farol da Barra’s tower reinforced?
Repairs in 1929 added 14 concrete columns and wall tiles.
When was Farol da Barra’s light automated?
In 1990.
What powered Farol da Barra’s first light?
An incandescent petrol lamp.
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