Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Nature Park

Historic sites in Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Nature Park

Historic Coastal Sites

Spanning the rugged coastline of the Alentejo and Algarve, these sites chronicle Portugal's maritime and military evolution. The collection includes the 16th-century Sagres Fortress, historically linked to Prince Henry the Navigator, and medieval structures like the Castle of Aljezur. Defensive works such as the Fort of Santo António de Belixe and the ruins at Arrifana highlight the strategic importance of these cliffs against pirate raids. Modern navigation is represented by the lighthouses at Cabo de São Vicente and Cabo Sardão, while the Menir de Aspradantes provides a link to Neolithic settlement.

Historic Coastal Sites — Map

Georges Jansoone / CC BY 2.5

A

Sagres Fortress

The Fortress of Sagres, also known as Castle of Sagres or Fort of Sagres, is a military structure, located near the Sagres freguesia, in…

Dr.G.Schmitz / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Lighthouse of Cabo de São Vicente

The Lighthouse of Cabo de São Vicente is a beacon/lighthouse located along the coastal peninsula of Sagres Point in the civil parish of…

Lusitana / CC BY 2.5

C

Castle of Aljezur

The Castle of Aljezur is a medieval castle founded in the parish of Aljezur, in the municipality of the same name overlooking the Aljezur…

//www.flickr.com/people/91124353@N05 / CC BY 2.0

D

Fort of Santo António de Belixe

The Fort of Santo António de Belixe, which is also referred to as the Fortress of Beliche, is located on Cape St.

Georges Jansoone / CC BY 2.5

E

Lighthouse of Ponta de Sagres

The Lighthouse of Ponta de Sagres, is beacon/lighthouse located along the coastal peninsula of Sagres Point in the civil parish of Sagres,…

Alvesgaspar / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Forte da Ilha do Pessegueiro

A 16th-century maritime fortification built to defend the coast against pirate raids. It stands opposite the island of the same name, which houses matching ruins of a planned harbor defense system.

G

Ruínas da Fortaleza de Arrifana

17th-century fortification ruins overlooking Arrifana Beach. Originally built to protect local tuna fishing nets from pirate attacks, the structure was severely damaged by the 1755 earthquake.

Klugschnacker / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Fortaleza de São Vicente

16th-century military monument rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. It encloses the lighthouse at the southwesternmost tip of Europe, guarding the high cliffs of Cape Saint Vincent.

Joaomartinho63 / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Farol do Cabo Sardão

Operational lighthouse commissioned in 1915, featuring a 17-meter white square tower. Uniquely, the tower is positioned on the landward side of the keepers' quarters rather than the seaward side.

bruno ralec / CC-BY-SA

J

Menir de Aspradantes

A well-preserved Neolithic standing stone made of white limestone. Reaching approximately 2.5 meters in height, it is a significant example of prehistoric megalithic culture in the Vila do Bispo region.

Bextrel / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Fort of Almádena

The Fort of Almádena or, also known as the Fort of the River Mouth, is located between the towns of Salema and Burgau, in the Algarve…

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