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 Sagres - History
This small town is close to the most southerly 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 guarded these relics as they were moved
to Lisbon where they remain to this day. 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. He is also reputed to have created a small
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 a very suitable vessel
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. The actual 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 Admiral Drake
recorded in his logbook that his men completely sacked this house in 1597.
Sagres - Description
There is very little left from a historical point of view as the only
items left from his original building is the small chapel of Nossa
Senhora da Graça 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 impressive dramatic sight with their 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 by the 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 area of Sagres enjoys its own mini-climate. There is
very little vegetation, the ground being mainly rock with barely any
covering 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 local 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 Abderramão I, all visual traces have been removed in
the course of time. However, in the immediate vicinity of their location
are “megaliths” and other signs of ancient civilization dating
back thousands of years. They were 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 often used 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 was virtually uninhabited and 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. At present
there is a plan to reconstruct the many ruins and turn into a type of
tourist cultural attraction.
Sagres Events
1st> Friday of each month - Market Day
Sagres Maps
Vila do Bispo Map
Sagres Distances
Distances between each Tourist Town in Kms (Click Here)
In order to read the above document please download Acrobat Reader (Click Here)
 Useful Sagres Telephone Numbers
Town Hall - 282 639 105
Tourist Office - 282 624 873
Sagres Beaches
Praia da Almadena
Praia do Beliche
Praia da Boca do Rio
Praia da Bordeira
Praia do Castelejo
Praia da Figueira
Praia da Mareta
Praia da Salema
Praia do Zavial
Sagres Accommodation
Sagres Private Rentals
Sagres Hotels
Sagres Holiday Apartments
Sagres Holiday Resorts
Sagres Inns
Sagres Pousadas
Sagres Golf Courses
Parque da Floresta Golf Course
Sagres Restaurants
Selected List in Sagres Area
Sagres Vehicle Hire
Sagres Rent a Car
Algarve Towns
Albufeira
· Almancil
· Alvôr
· Armação de Pêra
· Carvoeiro
· Faro
· Lagoa
· Lagos
· Loulé
· Monchique
· Olhão
· Portimão
· Quarteira
· Silves
· Tavira
· Vilamoura
· Vila Real de Santo António
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