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A light that has shone for a century O
n June 5, 1922, the westernmost tip of Madeira Island began to have another light. The Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse, situated on top of a cliff at an altitude of 290 meters, started operating. Besides the safety at sea function that the lighthouse provides, the whole surrounding area has become a touristic and landscape reference. From the top of the cliff the ocean is as far as the eye can see. And all around, the landscape is a contrast between the green of the hillside and the crystalline blue of the sea. The sunset at the Ponta do Pargo lighthouse is an experience not to be missed. For decades the lighthouse was inhabited by lighthouse keepers. It was only in 1989 that the infrastructure was electrified with
power from the public grid. Ten years later, in 1999, the Regional Government of Madeira declared the property as being of cultural value to the Region, classifying it as a Heritage Site of Local Value. Since 2001 the Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse is open for visits and has a small museum that helps to understand the history and importance of lighthouses in the Madeira Archipelago. Not to mention, this has been the most visited lighthouse in Portugal, with about 15 thousand visits per year. Now the westernmost parish of Madeira is closer than ever. Since August 2021, the access to Ponta do Pargo is made by an Expressway. The road has been a lever for private investment, where restaurants stand out, but also contributing www.essential-madeira.com 18
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5 de junho de 1922 a ponta mais ocidental da ilha da Madeira passava a ter outra luz. Começava a funcionar o Farol da Ponta do Pargo, situado no topo de uma arriba, a 290 metros de altitude. Além da função de segurança no mar que o farol proporciona, todo o espaço circundante tornou-se uma referência turística e na paisagem. Do topo da escarpa o oceano é a perder de vista. E em redor, a paisagem é um contraste entre o verde da encosta e o azul cristalino do mar. O pôr-do-sol no Farol da Ponta do Pargo é uma experiência a não perder. Durante décadas o farol foi habitado por faroleiros. Só em 1989 é que a infraestrutura foi eletrificada com energia da rede pública. Dez anos depois, em 1999, o Governo Regional da Madeira declarou o imóvel de valor cultural da
