The 220 steps you need to take to reach the top of the Farol of Cabo de Santa Maria, on Culatra Island, in Faro, can be challenging for many. Even so, those who intend to make the effort to climb them will certainly consider themselves rewarded from the moment they step out onto the balcony, located at about 45 meters high, and enjoy the unobstructed and unique view over the sea, the Ria Formosa, but also about Faro, Olhão, the Cerro de São Miguel and even São Brás de Alportel.
Having this experience, as well as getting to know this interesting building, full of history, is, during the summer of 2017, just a matter of desire. O farol that for about 160 years has served as a reference for seafarers who enter the bar of Faro-Olhão or those sailing off Culatra and Barreta (aka Deserta), will be open to all who want to visit it from Tuesday to Friday, between 15:30 and 19:15, until the final day of August, in an unprecedented initiative that results from the combination of wills of various entities, from the outset the National Maritime Authority, which oversees the lighthouses, but also the IPDJ, the Chamber of Faro and the association «Equally Different».
“The aim of this project is to give more people the opportunity to visit this heritage, which is part of our cultural heritage. Lighthouses, nowadays, have cultural value and are a heritage that we must preserve, not only for their architecture, but because they are living monuments. You farorowers continue to reside in the lighthouses and fulfill the tasks of their profession and these infrastructures maintain all their operational activity», he told the Sul Informação the director of Faroes, Captain José Guerreiro Cardoso, on the sidelines of the session for the signing of the protocol that gave substance to this project.
Another goal is to "contribute to the preservation of maritime culture" and make known "the importance of lighthouses for those who walk at sea".
This is, moreover, a work that has been carried out by the Maritime Authority, taking into account that there are 28 Portuguese lighthouses open to the general public every Wednesday of the year, between 15 pm and 00 pm. A small window of opportunity to learn more about these infrastructures that is used by many. “Last year, there were 18 people visiting these lighthouses, on Wednesdays, and the number has been growing”, revealed José Guerreiro Cardoso.
And if, on these occasions, the farorows seek to provide the historical framework of the place, enriching the experience of those who visit the farol, in this case, they cannot always be present, taking into account the many hours of opening for visitation.
This is where the two volunteers who are linked to this pilot project come in, Daniel and Ana. The two young people from Faro have been the hosts of those who visit the city for about a week and a half. Farol of Cabo de Santa Maria, making its characteristics known.
"Oh farol is 46 meters high, 50 high. This difference is due to the fact that it is installed on land four meters above sea level. It was built in 1851. In the last century, a superior addition was made, which allowed it to increase its size by 12 meters. Before, it was 34 meters», explains Daniel Jesus, aged 16, as the impressive landscape enters the eyes of visitors.
«From up here, we have a spectacular view and we can see the Deserta, Culatra and Armona islands. Look, Faro, Pechão and the Cerro de São Miguel», continues the young man from Faro.
This time, it was up to Daniel to climb to the top of the farol, to receive visitors there. Ana Raquel, born in Faro and a 21-year-old student at the University of the Algarve, he stayed at ground level, where he shows some old pieces that once helped this infrastructure to save lives and prevent accidents and guides people to the staircase that gives access to the tower where it is located. find mirrors and lighting.
Although neither of the two guides have been in this farol before joining the project, on a voluntary basis, they quickly learned the most important information, such as “the construction dates, some technical details and what you can see from here”.
«For me, in addition to being very funny, this experience is also very challenging, considering that I have vertigo and had to overcome the fear of heights. But it's worth it," guaranteed Daniel Jesus, who joined the project through an "association in Olhão, who informed me of the opportunity, knowing that I was looking to do volunteer work."
Ana, who did not reveal whether or not she was afraid of heights, had already had previous experiences of volunteer work and joined this project through the University of Algarve.
The protocol signed between AMN, the Regional Directorate of Faro of the IPDJ, the Chamber of Faro and the association «Igumente Different» is, for now, unique in the country. “We are going to see if this protocol works, so that we can eventually apply the same model in other lighthouses”, said the director of Lighthouses José Guerreiro Cardoso.
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