During many years the Portuguese shores where called by the British “the dark shores” due to lack of light signs during the night, but after a royal decision in 1758 it is decided to build lighthouses along the shore. The Espichel Cape Lighthouse was built in 1790 in the sequence of this decision. The main dates of this lighthouse are:

1883 – it was installed a 1st category light source with the ability to produce 4 white flashlights with a range of 28 miles replacing the old fixed focus.
1886 – the light became of petroleum vapour incandescent type (before that it was fed by oil).
1900 – the building was increased both sides.
1925 – the light became fed by electricity.
1947 – new optical device with an aero-maritime origin that was previously in Roca Cape of 4th category with a flashlight 42 miles range.
Today - it has the optical device installed in 1947, plus a 1000 watts halogen lamp and it has a 26 miles range.

The sound signs evolved from a bell activated by a clock device (1886), then a compressed air siren in 1926 now deactivated. In 1948 it was installed a radio-sign (updated in 1953 and 1981).

Nowadays the lighthouse is fully automated so if a system fails it is automatically replaced without human intervention. It is maintained by 3 lighthouse-keepers.