lthough Sagres is on the Algarve it doesn't have the same over-developed holiday town feel of some of those towns further east. Situated within a few kilometres of Europe's most south western point, Cape St. Vincent, the town has a rather windswept, remote feel about it. The town itself is pleasant enough in places, with an attractive square, but there is little of historical or architectural interest as the original town bore the full brunt of the 1755 earthquake. It comprises of a lively, working harbour, a clutch of bars and restaurants around the square, a small supermarket and perhaps most importantly to many of its visitors a fine beach. Not surprisingly the town's restaurants have a reputation for serving a wide variety of fresh fish. It is however the history, location and surrounding features that make Sagres well worth a visit. Fortaleza de Sagres and wind rose Fortaleza de Sagres In terms of global importance, Sagres' heyday was in the 15th century and this was down to Prince Henry the Navigator. He chose Sagres as his home and location of his school of navigation. The school boasts alumni such as Fernao de Magalhaes (Magellan), Pedro Alvares Cabral and Vasco da Gama whose impact on the World is still felt today. It was from nearby Belixe that the first caravels were launched, the same ships that brought about Portugal's age of The Discoveries and helped define the nation's identity. Henry's most obvious legacy to present day Sagres is the Henry the Navigator's Fortaleza located on the imposing headland of Ponta de Sagres to the north of the town. The hulking walls of the 17th century fort only remain on one side with the impressive entrance arch the only access. Beyond the walls, things are moderately less impressive with the small restored 15th century chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graça and the Rosa dos Ventos, a pebble wind compass measuring 43 metres across. The compass was discovered in 1921 up until when it had been buried below a church. Cabo de São Vicente - Portugal Cabo de São Vicente Barni1 From the tip of Ponta de Sagres there are great views up the coast to Cabo Sao Vicente (Cape St. Vincent), Europe's most south-westerly point. The cape derives its name from the martyr St Vincente whose relics were allegedly carried to the cape from the Holy Lands by ravens. Here they guarded them until in 1173 they carried them to Lisbon where they still remain. The cape's history as a sacred place actually dates back to Neolithic times to which the existence of several menhirs attest. Today the cape is better known for its lighthouse. Built over the ruins of a sixteenth-century Franciscan convent in 1846 to guard one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, it is the second most powerful in Europe. Its two 1000-watt lamps can be seen up to 60 kilometers away. Praia de Beliche - Sagres Praia de Beliche Alex SchröderCC BY-SA 3.0 Sagres is better known these days for its fine beaches, popular with both sunbathers and surfers. In fact the shape of the coast here means you can find a sheltered beach, and/or good surf most of the year.

Sagres Fortless

On the Costa Alentejana Sines is an old fishing town best known in Portugal as the birthplace of the explorer Vasco da Gama. His statue stands proudly beside the walls of the castle in which he grew up, and the museum inside recounts the life of this national hero. Now, Sines is making waves as Portugal’s top container port, which is separated from the old quarter in a gigantic industrial enclave along the shore. It’s a fascinating site if you’re into that sort of thing, as it has a natural underwater trench that allows the largest cargo ships to dock near the shore. Keep going south and the industry melts away, and you’ll come to a scalloped shoreline with little coves and the whitewashed village of Porto Côvo.

15 Best Things to Do in Lagos (Portugal) Lagos is a busy coastal town in the Algarve that has all the things people love about the region. There are beaches of all descriptions, from long sandy bays to tiny coves walled by ochre-coloured cliffs. These rocks create a breathtaking scene at Ponta da Piedade, where the bluffs and obelisks are riddled with caves and arches and the sea is a clear emerald colour. Back in the centre of Lagos the old town is an exploring heaven, with Portuguese pavement in lovely patterns on its streets and sights that transport you to the Age of Discovery when explorers set sail from the port.