Lights which save lives: lighthouses in Portugal

Travelling Memories: Representations of the City and the Sea. Entanglements.

As part of the Travelling Memories: Representations of the City and the Sea. Entaglements, the next session is entitled “Lights which save lives: lighthouses in Portugal” and will be led by Teresa Costa.

Always there: lights which spared lives in coastal communities, whether linked to fishing or navigation. They began as simple bonfires, lit on beaches or higher grounds, where they were known as fachos (beacons). In Portugal, the beginnings of lighthouses (as buildings) were tied to charitable religious patrons. Our lighthouses evolved alongside those of other nations. This evolution reached its peak in the 19th century. This was when Fresnel invented the eponymous lenses adopted by maritime nations. Portugal followed suit, though at a slower pace, which earned it the nickname dark coast. Today, Portugal stands alongside other nations and is a founding member of the IALA.