The notice to close Sagres Lighthouse, in Vila do Bispo was posted unexpectedly on August 1st, and since then the lighthouse has remained unavailable to the public.
The decision left a dozen employees without jobs in the middle of summer. The abrupt closure, caused by ongoing improvement works, apparently interrupted visits to this widely visited monument.
This sudden closure surprised local officials and business people, including Pedro Domingos, who has the cafeteria and store adjacent to the museum. He said he was not informed in advance about the works, or the closure.
So far, the National Maritime Authority has not set a date for the reopening of the Sagres Lighthouse, and there is no ongoing procedure for the concession of spaces affected by the improvement works.
The Sagres Lighthouse is a unique structure, with an optical device considered to be hyper-radiant - one of the few in operation in the world. The history of this lighthouse dates back to 1846, when D. Maria II ordered its construction.
The original lighting apparatus was made up of sixteen Argand lamps with parabolic reflectors, which ran on olive oil. Its rotation mechanism was operated through a clockwork system.
Over the years, the Sagres Lighthouse has undegone several reconstruction attempts that were never definitively completed.
This temporary closure of the Sagres Lighthouse highlights the economic and social implications of improvement works in places of historical and cultural interest. It's reopening is eagerly awaited by local businesses.
