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Arnel Lighthouse
The Azores' oldest operating lighthouse, opened in 1876, offers guided visits and preserves a Fresnel lens while serving as a key maritime beacon.
About this place
Arnel Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the Azores still in operation. It became operational on 26 November 1876 and since then is an important maritime mark. Arnel Lighthouse has been undergoing various improvements and adaptations over the years, allowing it to reach today maintaining its maritime signaling and coast surveillance functions, as well as constituting a landmark in the heritage of the Nordeste municipality.
Guided tours of the Arnel Lighthouse are offered throughout the year. Visitors can learn about the history and heritage, as well as the activity of the lighthouse and its lighthouse keepers who are in the lighthouse for 24-hour shifts to safeguard the smooth operation of the lighthouse. Currently, the headlight is equipped with an Original 3rd Order Fresnel Lens (500mm) and it holds a luminous range of 19 nautical miles (35km). It is a piece of important maritime signaling equipment for all traffic sailing in Azorean waters.
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