Sagres, Portugal
View from our window our first night in Sagres. We had to change rooms for the rest of our stay, but the view was equally spectacular looking in the opposite direction toward the east and the harbor
Unloading a fishing boat in the harbor in Sagres
Cliffs surround a surfing beach in Sagres - surfers are just visible out in the water
Surfers at a different beach - the little beach is hidden behind the edge of the cliff
Beach at Sagres
The coast at Sagres
Beach, cliffs, and part of the town of Sagres. Our "aparthotel" was the large square building on the point to the left of the one with the red roof, and the harbor was on the other side of the point
This huge stone wind rose, excavated in the 18th century, may date back to Henry the Navigator's time. Henry was governor of Algarve, and had a residence in the port town of Lagos (from which many of the voyages of exploration set sail), and is said to have had a school in Sagres for the study of navigation, cartography, astronomy, and ship design, although there is some question whether it was an actual school or a more informal gathering of scholars at his court. Henry died in Sagres in 1490.
Cabo de Sao Vicente, Cape St. Vincent, is Portugal's (and Europe's) most southwestern point. The lighthouse there is one of the most powerful in Europe, 3300 watts, and can be seen from 100 km (60 miles) out at sea. This point of land (most certainly without the lighthouse at that time), would have been the very last bit of land Portuguese sailors would have seen as they set off on their voyages of discovery, not knowing if or when they would return.
View from our window our first night in Sagres. We had to change rooms for the rest of our stay, but the view was equally spectacular looking in the opposite direction toward the east and the harbor
Unloading a fishing boat in the harbor in Sagres
Cliffs surround a surfing beach in Sagres - surfers are just visible out in the water
Surfers at a different beach - the little beach is hidden behind the edge of the cliff
Beach at Sagres
The coast at Sagres
Beach, cliffs, and part of the town of Sagres. Our "aparthotel" was the large square building on the point to the left of the one with the red roof, and the harbor was on the other side of the point
This huge stone wind rose, excavated in the 18th century, may date back to Henry the Navigator's time. Henry was governor of Algarve, and had a residence in the port town of Lagos (from which many of the voyages of exploration set sail), and is said to have had a school in Sagres for the study of navigation, cartography, astronomy, and ship design, although there is some question whether it was an actual school or a more informal gathering of scholars at his court. Henry died in Sagres in 1490.
Cabo de Sao Vicente, Cape St. Vincent, is Portugal's (and Europe's) most southwestern point. The lighthouse there is one of the most powerful in Europe, 3300 watts, and can be seen from 100 km (60 miles) out at sea. This point of land (most certainly without the lighthouse at that time), would have been the very last bit of land Portuguese sailors would have seen as they set off on their voyages of discovery, not knowing if or when they would return.