Cabo de S?o Vicente – Portugal | Iconic European Southwestern Point

Cabo de S?o Vicente is well known worldwide to be the iconic European furthest Southwestern point, an emblematic promontory of Portugal in the Algarve from which you can enjoy a stunning Atlantic horizon view.

Situated at 125,0 kilometres from the regional capital Faro and at 25,0 kilometres west of the important resort of Lagos,histotric centre linked to the legendary Era do Descobrimentos,that period corresponding to the 15th century which saw protagonists the Portuguese navigators with their discoveries.

That Portuguese tip lies at the end of the E9 European Coastal Path, a very long continental route of over 5,000 kilometres which links it to Narva-J?essu, a town of Estonia located on the country's northern Baltic coast at the border with Russia.

?That site is one of the most suggestive places of the Algarve very close to Sagres, part of the concelho of Vila do Bispo in the splendid Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina consisting in a pretty vast territory of immense natural beauty boasting a large variety of attractions.

Inhabited since the Neolithic era that headland was also a sacred destination for the former local Celt populations the Estrinmnios or Oestreminis who venerates some Menhirs and Dolmens representing pagan tribes who were among the first settlers of Portugal.

The ancient Greeks explored that site in different occasions calling it Ofiussa or Ophiussa meaning land of snakes for the presence of some kinds of those reptiles.

That ancient civilisation also erected there a Temple in honour of Heracles, that mythological hero son of the God Zeus and Alcmene considered with Aphrodite the most beautiful female character in the Greek mythology.

Closely linked to the Hellenic culture that suggestive place was mentioned in the 1st century BC by the famed Hellenic geographer, historian and philosopher Strabo and apart the previously cited denomination it was also known as the end of the head.?

Also the Romans during the colonisation of the Iberian Peninsula once discovered that cape gave it a name : Promontorium Sacrum meaning Sacred Promontory dedicated to the God Saturn? with several people from different territories devoted to that Divinity reaching it.

The name S?o Vicente,? came later to pay homage to Saint Vincent of Zaragoza, Patron of? the sailors, martyred under the Emperor Diocletian probably in 304? whose battered body would run aground, an event which according to a legend took place near that Portuguese sharp peninsula.

Related to that episode immediately started to be a frequent destination of Christian pilgrimages with many believers from different sites of the old Hispania and Lusitania travelling to see that regarded place.

In the same century King Afonso I of Portugal? exhumed the body of St. Vincent bringing it by a ship to the capital Lisbon in 1173. A legend says that the boat was followed by many of those birds which curiously later appeared in the coat of arms of the city.

On the top of?Cabo de S?o Vicente? was established a Lighthouse which is part of that magnificent post card, elevated at an altitude of 86,0 metres over the sea level with an imposing tower 28,0 metres high. ?

That construction was erected in 1846 over the ruins of an old Franciscan Monastery probably built in the 16th century despite according to historical records there was a previous structure consisting in a sort of defencive fort flanked by a tower established in the same century of that former, disappeared Convent or perhaps before.?

The date of that construction is not certain but it is certified that it was totally destroyed by an incursion led by Francis Drake in in 1587.

After that event, concretely 19 years later King Felipe II of Portugal commissioned to establish another one which was totally devastated by that infamous, sad earthquake dated 1755 which destroyed a large part of the country.

The new lighthouse which took since then another aspect was provided by a white light with a capacity in length of over 53,0 kilometres with a flash signal emitted every five seconds, devices providing notable performances considering the date of installation, in their kinds those advanced instruments elevated that structure? as one of the best in Southern Europe.

In 1914 to improve furthermore the activity of the lighthouse was added a system of acoustic signals while in 1926 there were new improvements connecting an electrical generator system to that construction.

The 40's also were important years related to different stages of progress creating a more modern, functional complex connecting the Lighthouse? to the electrical civil network in 1948 while one year later was installed a radio beacon.?

The construction of that structure determined that the statues depicting the Saints Vicent and Francis once established in that point were removed to the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Gra?a, a beautiful Church erected in 1579 situated in Ponta de Sagres.?

The cliffs surrounding it are simply superb completing a great frame, they reach in its highest point approximately 80,0 metres in vertical over the Ocean, on their tops you can enjoy stunning panoramic views discovering many hidden corners lying around the promontory.?

Walking for approximately 500,0 metres south of the cape you can reach a spectacular corner in which the strength of the Atlantic formed a wonderful bay.

Once there you will notice that the promontory is subdivided in two sections and also that is another attraction, a perfect place very recommended to take several pictures. ?

From there you can have a unique view towards Ponta de Sagres with its iconic fortress and after that magnificent view I suggest you to continue along the Ecovia del Litoral, the coastal road which leads to Sagres situated just 7,0 kilometres away.?

I recommend you in addition a stop after a couple of kilometres from the cape where you will notice a sinuous curve forming a spectacular rocky headland.

Following along the road at a very short distance from that very scenic stage you can admire a pretty large gulf enclosed between two small sharp headlands and in that concrete place you can admire the second tip of Cabo de Sao Vicente exactly facing of you.

Another important aspect related to that road is the presence along it of a rich fauna with many species of birds such as falcons, storks, eagles, herons, kites, seagulls, rock pigeons and many other migratory species.? .

The nearest Airport is the International Airport of Faro situated at 125,0 kilometres from that cape.

After the view of many natural wonders scattered along that ravishing coastline at the end of your visit those marvellous images will be alive for a long time in your mind with that unique picture of a scenic cape facing an infinite Atlantic horizon which never ends.

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Link : https://www.portugaltravel.org/sao-vicente-cape-sagres

Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation

Hotel Mira Sagres

Nature Beach Quinta Resort Algarbh