Sagres

Sagres is located at the far southwestern tip of the Algarve, about a two-hour drive from our location in Font Santa. This is the one of the windiest and wildest parts of the Algarve, thus it draws surfers of all ages from all over the world, and during the summer months they are the towns main inhabitants, with plenty of surf shops to supply all there needs. It is because of this type of climate that Henry the navigator is thought to have gathered at his villa on the Sagres peninsula a school of navigators and map cartographers, known as his school of seamanship and navigation. It is documented that the sixteenth-century Portuguese mathematician and cosmographer Pedro Nunes Referred to Sagres, as the haven from which our sailors set out, being well taught and provided with instruments and rules which all map makers and navigators should be supplied with. By all accounts these sailors seemed to have lived a masonic type of life style as they prepared themselves for the forthcoming expeditions to the new world.

 Henry the navigator was the third surviving son of king John and his beautiful wife Philippa, who was the sister King Henry IV of England.

 Fortaleza de Sagres 

The impressive Fortress of Sagres or Fortaleza de Sagres, which you can see directly in front of you as you approach the roundabout on entering Sagres is a 15th century fort with extremely well preserved outer walls, that as you approach from the front and the parking area, give the impression that they fully encompass the fortress, but once you are through the main gate you see they don’t. It is the sheer cliffs that surround the fort which provided all the protection that’s needed.  If you have a keen eye take the time to walk out onto the peninsula, you will find the original stair way leads down to the cliff base, this would have been the main access that the sailors would have used to get to there ships. There is also approximately a 2km walk, that gives absolutely fantastic views of the sheer cliff faces that surround you, this coupled with the crashing waves at there base and the screaming wind, make it on certain days feel a very desolate and unforgiving place. But it is here that one can say you really appreciate the full force of the Atlantic.

Beaches

The Praia da Mareta is a beautiful stretch of sand. It is very well sheltered on both east and west by steep cliffs, that offer you a gentler and less windy beach than the others. There is good parking (free), but this makes it a very popular beach for bathers and those wanting to learn the basics of surfing. If you look to the top of the cliffs to your west, you can see the lighthouse of Sao Vincente.

Lighthouse of São Vicente

  To get to the Farol de São Vicente you turn right at the Sagres roundabout, then drive for about 10 minutes, go past the Fortaleza da Valeria on your left with its crumbling walls, which now is the last remains of the harbour fortifications, you will find the Farol do Cabo de São Vicente. (The Lighthouse of São Vicente). This part of Sagres is said to have been first occupied by Franciscan monks, and this is where the lighthouse and fortress take their name from, Cabo de São Vicente. And is said to be the place where Saint Vincent of Saragossa remains were found.