The Arnel Lighthouse, located in the northeast of São Miguel, is the oldest lighthouse in the Azorean archipelago and has been active since November 1876.
The Arnel Lighthouse is at an altitude of 66 meters above sea level and has an octagonal tower 15 meters high built on top of the lighthouse keeper’s home. It is a coastal lighthouse; its light reaches out 25 miles to sea.
There are two parking areas up at road level. The advice given to me was, do not drive down the road. After arriving, I quickly learned why that was good advice. There is a sign warning people to park and walk down. The road, which is really just a driveway gets very steep; 35% grade steep!
Arnel Lighthouse situated above a small fishing village.
Arnel village homes
Look closely to the photo above. Notice how steep that road is at each bend! The road is also grooved for needed traction when the road is wet… from the morning dew, rain, storms, or even a high humidity day. They do get salt spray. So the road will not dry until a heavy rain washes that salt away!
Yup! You read that right… you need rain to dry these roads!
Remember, these are called the Misty Isles!
The second house in the photo above has its entrance decorated with the owner’s name and I am assuming their coat of arms. It’s beautiful work done on square tiles.
At the bottom of the road there are fishing boats and a boat ramp. I was lucky this morning. The waves were out of the east. So there was a nice spray at the boat ramp area.
Sea water love these shortly after sunrise
I love these wooden fishing boats! Brave men take them out on the ocean… with oars! No engine at all.
Fishing Boats Lined up and Ready to Go
On the hike back up, I could see the waterfall clearly. I could hear it when I was walking down the road, but it was behind me. I was too busy placing my feet to stop and turn around. There was a nice level spot to ret about half way up where I took this photo.
Waterfall at Arnel
It boggles my mind whenever I think of the early settler here. Look at those cliffs, the steepness of the road, the houses build into the cliff-side. Who ever thought… “Gee, this is the prefect place for our fishing village!”?