These last weeks I've received many meetings cards due to the several meetings held in Lisbon and Algarve.
In the Algarve, Tiago jmet Paulo and Ana once again for another monthly meeting and this time they had an extra guest, Raquel. In addition to Tiago's postcard, here are also postcards sent by Carla, Vitória, Leninha, Zé Pombal and Vitória.
poster xxl
Tiago chose this postcard for me because this place reminds him of my visit to the Algarve 2 years ago. For one day he was my guide and took me to some iconic locations in the western Algarve, Cape St. Vincent was precisely one of them. It was not in my plans to go there, so it was a great surprise and a lovely day with Tiago.
Cabo de São Vicente (the Cape of Saint Vincent) is the most southwesterly extremity of Europe. This wind blasted and storm pounded headland is just what visitors expect, for what was considered, up until the 14th century, the end of the known world. The jagged cliffs rise 60 meters from the ferocious seas and high above guarding the busy shipping lines is one of Europe’s brightest lighthouses that can be seen 60 miles away. - in: http://www.algarve-tourist.com
© Michael Howard photography www.mikehowardphoto.com
In the cape we can visit a fortress built in the 16th century in order to protect the coast from the frequent attacks by Moorish pirates. It stands on the site of an earlier medieval convent, which, legend has it, is supposed to have housed the mortal remains of São Vicente (St Vincent).
It is a military construction with a polygonal floor plan, with a gateway crowned by the royal shield and which once had a drawbridge. - in: https://www.visitalgarve.pt/en
Inside the fortress can be seen the lighthouse of São Vicente.
The lighthouse of Cape St. Vincente, or the Lighthouse of D. Fernando, was ordered constructed by Queen D. Maria II, and began operating in October 1846, in the 16th century Franciscan convent.[2] It was originally illuminated by olive oil lamp consisting of two clarions that rotated every two seconds, and a range of 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi).
Following an initial period of operation, the lighthouse was abandoned and almost fell into ruin; a survey of the site indicated its deplorable state by 1865. Due to its state and poor performance of its light, work began on remodelling the structure began in 1897.
Work on the site lasted 11 years, and in 1908 the lighthouse began operating with a 1,330-millimetre (52 in) Fresnel lens, making it one of the largest optics used in Portuguese lighthouses and one of the 10 largest in the world.
In 1914, a signal horn was installed. In 1926, a generator was installed, permitting an easy transition from petrol to electricity.
Due to the necessities of the Second World War, in 1947 deflector panels were installed, allowing the lighthouse to function both for terrestrial and maritime navigation. The following year, it was finally connected to the public electrical grid.
In 1982 the lighthouse was automated and, at the same time, it began to control the neighbouring lighthouse in the adjacent cape, supporting a small staff on duty. - in: wikipedia
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