Santa Marta Lighthouse, Maritime navigational beacon in Cascais, Portugal.
Santa Marta Lighthouse is a stone tower with white tiles and blue horizontal stripes, standing on a hill overlooking Cascais Bay. The structure is modest in size but distinctive because of its colored pattern and seaside location.
The tower was built in 1868 on the site of a 17th-century military fortification. Throughout the 1900s it received electrical systems and later automation to continue guiding ships safely.
The museum exhibits how Portuguese sailors navigated coastal waters and the tools they relied on. Displays document the lives of lighthouse keepers and their importance to maritime safety along the coast.
The site is easily reached on foot from Cascais, and the path offers nice views along the coast. The museum and terrace are open during daytime hours and invite visitors to spend time there, especially on clear days.
The tower still houses a special optical system from the early 1900s that concentrated light beams so they reached far across the sea. The museum also displays a large lens from another famous lighthouse, showing the variety of navigation aids used along Portuguese coasts.
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