Berlengas Islands Special Protection Area

Berlengas-saarten erityissuojelualueen parhaat kohteet

Berlengas Islands Essential Discoveries

The Berlengas Islands, located off the coast of Peniche, comprise a granite archipelago known for the 17th-century Forte de São João Baptista and the Duke of Braganza Lighthouse. As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the area features dramatic cliffs like Cabo Carvoeiro and unique geological formations such as the Cerro da Velha islet. The islands serve as a critical nesting site for seabirds and contain historical infrastructure including stone cisterns and ferry connections to the mainland.

Vitor Oliveira / CC BY-SA 2.0

A

Cabo Carvoeiro

Cabo Carvoeiro is cape which lies on the Atlantic coast, along the westernmost point of the Peniche Peninsula, in the civil parish of …

B

Cerro da Velha

A small rocky islet located within the Berlengas archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean.

C

Berlengas

The primary maritime arrival point and ferry terminal providing seasonal transport links between the Peniche Peninsula and Berlenga Grande.

D

Forte de São João Batista

A 17th-century coastal fortification built on the site of a former monastery, connected to the main island by a narrow stone bridge.

E

Forte de São João Baptista

A prominent maritime fortress featuring vaulted ceilings and stone corridors, originally constructed to defend the archipelago from pirate raids.

F

Farol da Berlenga

Also known as the Duke of Braganza Lighthouse, this 29-meter tower has guided ships through the archipelago since 1841.

G

Berlenga

The highest point on the island of Berlenga Grande, offering views across the granite cliffs and the surrounding Special Protection Area.

H

Cisterna

A historical water storage reservoir used to collect and preserve freshwater for the island's residents and garrison.