Sagres
The End of the Old World
Cape St. Vincent
Jutting out from the western Algarve, the windswept Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent) marks the southwestern most point of Europe. Centuries ago, this marked the end point of the ancient Mediterranean world (Latin poets refered to this region as Ophiussa – a semi-mythical “Land of Serpents”) looking out to the unhospitable vastness of the Atlantic ocean. The ancient Greeks dedicated a temple here to Heracles, the Olympian god who in conquering dangerous archaic forces is said to have "made the world safe for mankind". Today the Cape St. Vincent remains a landmark for any ship travelling to or from the Mediterranean.
For many years it was claimed that Henry the Navigator, Afonso Henriques, plotted the voyages of discovery from the nearby village of Sagres, however, the nearby town of Lagos was actually Prince Henry´s centre of expeditions. Afonso Henriques did spend his later years living in Sagres, dying here on 13th November 1460.
Tiles depicting Lisbons city crest
José Manuel
The name derives from the martyred Saint Vincent of Saragossa, whose tomb is in Valencia, but whose relics may have reached Sagres, where it is claimed he was buried in 304 AD. The famous Arab geographer and traveller Abu Abd Allah Muhammad al-Idrisi, described St. Vincents shrine in Sagres as being constantly guarded by ravens. In 1173, Afonso Henriques ordered the relics of the Saint to be brought up to Lisbon where he would be proclaimed the patron saint of the city. It is claimed that the ravens fiollowed the ship carrying the body all the way to the capital, and now the city crest of Lisbon depicts two ravens guarding a ship carrying the relics of the saint.
Many different birds can be found today nesting in the cliffs at Cape St. Vincent including Bonelli´s Eagles and Peregrine Falcons.
Further round the coast, and sheltered from the prevailing winds of the Cape, Sagres itself contains around two dozen very pleasant beaches. Sagres is quieter and less commercialised than the seaside towns further to the East, and it is possible to find lovely stretches of beach completely deserted. Praia do Martinhal, Praia da Mareta, and Tonel are all worth visiting, with Beliche generally being the most highly rated.
The Cerro das Moitas campsite being a popular stopover point for backpackers from around the world.
Scuba Diving Holidays in Sagres
Scuba Diving in Sagres
Scuba Diving in Sagres
Sagres Dive Centre
The Dive Centre in Sagres offers diving programs for both beginners and professionals, with night dives also available. The windswept shelf-like promontory contains bizarre rock landscapes with hidden canyons.....(More info.)
Sagres Dive Areas
The Dive Areas at the coastline of Sagres are maybe the most beautiful areas in Portugal. Here you can see a variety of fish shoals, cuttlefish, aquatic plants, grottoes, canyons and caves. Wreck diving (10-30 m depth) is part of the program. The wrecks in the10 m depth can be visited by beginners.....(More info.)
Hotels in Sagres
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