Sagres – the Western Tip of the Algarve Region

We have a couple more posts about our February trip to Portugal for you. But before getting on to the next one, please know that we are doing well, all things considered. We are now 3 weeks into our “confinement,” and the good news is that we seem to have crested the curve and are on the downside here in San Sebastian. They think the peak of new cases in our area was March 27. Fortunately, where we live has not been impacted as badly as Madrid or the Barcelona area. So, we’re hoping things will continue to improve here and that the measures taken continue to have their desired result. That being said, the confinement will continue for another 3 weeks.

One of our favorite excursions in the Algarve region was out to Sagres, which is at the very southwest tip of Portugal. Two years ago, we were at the westernmost point in Europe – Cabo da Roca. And by driving all the way to Sagres, and to Cabo de São Vicente, we arrived at the place that in medieval times was believed to be the end of the world. This little tip of Portugal is stunning, with natural cliffs and strong breezes.

Sagres is a small town popular with surfers, and those that appreciate the laid-back lifestyle that surfing represents. The scenery is beautiful and there’s not a lot to do except take it all in.

What makes the journey worthwhile is visiting Fortaleza de Sagres. This fort dates from the 15th century and is unique because it only has one exterior wall. The rest of the fortress's defenses are provided by the towering 200-foot cliffs that were considered impossible for attackers to scale. They looked that way to us as we walked along the mile-long cliff-side path with great views. Like most of Europe, there is no barrier to stop you from venturing to the edge, only some warning signs. There were even some crazy locals fishing from the cliffs. Here are a few photos:

After enjoying the panorama, we ventured out to see the lighthouse at Cabo de São Vicente, which lies about four miles west of the fort. It’s a barren, desolate place, with the lighthouse sitting 250 feet above the sea, with a beam that can be seen 35 miles out to sea.

It was a long day, which started in Lagos (see prior post) and finished late in the afternoon with a long drive back. It was worth it though to experience the gorgeous landscape – and we found a great pizza place for lunch!

Stay safe and healthy,

Shana & Jeff