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Sagres History
This small town is close to the most south western point of Europe known as Cape
St. Vincent. The legend of the martyr Saint Vincent is that his relics were
mysteriously transported by ravens from the Holy Land to the Cape and
subsequently guarded by them. In 1173 the ravens reputedly then moved the relics
to Lisbon where they remain to this day. However, it much more likely that they
were moved to Lisbon upon the orders of Dom Afonso Henrique. Several naval
engagements took place off the Cape; Admiral Tourville defeated Sir George Rooke
in 1693; Admiral Rodney defeated the Spanish in 1780; Admiral Jervis with Nelson
defeated the Spanish fleet in 1797. As Sagres is located on the south side of
the Cape its natural protection from the western winds and rough seas lent
itself to the building by Prince Henry the Navigator (Dom Afonso Henrique), of a
fort in which to house his school devoted to navigation and exploration but he
lived mainly in nearby Lagos. He is also reputed to have created a shipbuilding
yard in the small natural harbour.
From 1419 until 1460 he devoted his time and the revenues of the Order of Christ
into this project. Money was spent liberally in building the vessels known as
the �Caravela� which was in time to prove so suitable for exploration. In 1427
Diogo da Silva first discovered the Azores Islands. Until 1434 no sailor was
known to have sailed further south than the Cape Bojador on the west side of
Africa. In this same year, Gil Eanes from Lagos, conquered the Cape but it was
not until 1488 that Bartolomeu Dias succeeded in rounding the Cape of Good Hope.
A home of the Prince was likely to have been at the nearby Cape St. Vincent
close to the ruins of a 16th Century Monastery. Unfortunately, the famous
English captain and sometimes pirate, Francis Drake has recorded in his logbook
that his men completely sacked this house in 1597.
Sagres Description
There is very little left from an historical point of view as the only items
left from his original building is the small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Gra�a
and reputably the giant pebble wind compass, Rosa dos Ventos. The present walls
surrounding the area are the remains of a 17th Century fort. At the nearby Cape
St Vincent is an impressive lighthouse that can normally be visited. This
lighthouse has provided the guiding beam that safely directs the hundreds of
ships that pass the Cape every year from the inevitable destruction that would
otherwise occur. The surrounding cliffs present a very dramatic sight with their
impressive towering sheer height and at most times being beaten by the strength
of the vast Atlantic Ocean.
The local restaurants are renowned for their fish and its variety and freshness
and it is common to see the local fishermen wedged in dramatic perches on the
cliff face with the thundering sea many scores of feet below. Unfortunately,
every year the lives of some of these enthusiastic fishermen are taken, usually
by falling. It is interesting to note that the area of Sagres enjoys its own
mini-climate. There is very little vegetation, the ground being mainly rock with
barely any soil, but in the area to the north of the town 25 different varieties
of wild orchids have been found.
Sagres Nearby Locations
The nearest town is Vila do Bispo that acts as the administrative centre for the
area and also houses a few good fish restaurants. In the 8th Century about one
kilometre to the southwest of this town was the seat of a religious Order known
as the Igreja de Corvo. Founded by Christians from Valencia seeking refuge from
the persecution of the Spanish ruler Abderram�o I, all visual traces have been
removed in the course of time. However, in the immediate vicinity are over 250
�megaliths� and other signs of ancient civilization dating back thousands of
years.
The area was recorded by the Moors as being very rich and providing hospitality
to all travellers regardless of their faith. From Sagres the traveller can
either go north or back to the east. Along the south coast just to the east is
the superb open beach of Martinhal that is popular with windsurfers. Further
east are the small and unspoilt beaches of Ingrina and Zavial, whilst further on
is the more developed beach of Salema. Just to the east of Vila do Bispo near
the small village of Raposeira is the modest 13th Century Chapel of Nossa
Senhora de Guadalupe, reputed to have been used often by Dom Afonso Henrique in
his religious devotion.
The beaches immediately to the north of the Cape are more exposed to the winds
and rollers of the Atlantic with quite dangerous offshore currents. Further to
the north of Vila da Bispo is the open sandy beach of Bordeira. About two-thirds
of the journey north to this beach is a turning left to the small village of
Pedralva. The village is now nearly completely unoccupied but it shows to the
traveller a picture of what the Algarve looked like prior to the invasion of
tourism and how life was once very demanding.
Sagres Map (Click Here)
Sagres Golf
Parque da Floresta �
Boavista � Palmares
Faro Airport Transfer to Sagres
Faro Taxi to Sagres
Sagres Weather
     
Sagres Information
 800 296 296 - Support to Tourists
112 - SOS
282 639 105 - Town Hall (Vila do Bispo)
282 624 873 - Tourist Office
Sagres Events
Market Day - 1st Friday of each month
Sagres Beaches
Praia do Amado
Praia da Bordeira
Praia de Carriagem
Praia da Arrifana
Praia de Canal
Praia de Vale Figueira
Praia do Monte Cl�rigo
Praia de Vale dos Homens
Praia da Samouqueira
Praia de Odeceixe
Praia de Almadena
Praia do Barranco Jo�o Vaz
Praia da Barriga
Praia do Beliche
Praia da Boca do Rio
Praia do Castelejo
Praia da Cordama
Praia das Eiras
Praia da Ingrina
Praia da Mareta
Praia de Matinhal
Praia do Mirou�o
Praia da Salema
Praia do Telheiro
Praia do Tonel
Praia do Zavial
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