Sagres Point

The Sagres Point (pron. IPA2|'saɣɾɨʃ) ("Ponta de Sagres", from the Latin "Promontorium Sacrum" or Holy Promontory), is a windswept shelf-like promontory located in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. To the west lies Cape St. Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente) which forms the southwesternmost tip of Europe. It has been sacred ground since Neolithic times, as standing menhirs in the neighbourhood will attest to.

History

The promontory of Sagres has always been important for sailors because it offers a shelter for ships before attempting the dangerous voyage around Cape St. Vincent. Given the dangers of being blown onto the coastal rocks, captains preferred to wait in the lee of the point until favourable winds allowed them to continue.

When Prince Henry the Navigator commenced his explorations, that would start the Portuguese Age of Discoveries, at his "Vila do Infante", the Sagres peninsula lacked the necessary requirements for such large undertakings by its scarcity of water (even though it was surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean), minimal agriculture, shortage of wood for shipbuilding, lack of any deep-water landing site, and small population. Henry re-populated a village called Terçanabal that was deserted due to the continuous pirate attacks to the coast. The village was situated in a strategic position for his maritime enterprises and was latter called Vila do Infante.Henry the Navigator employed cartographers, such as Jehuda Cresques, to help him chart the coast of Mauretania in the wake of voyages he sent there. He also engaged an expert map and instrument-maker, Jayme of Majorca, so that his captains might have the best nautical information. This probably led to the legend of the Nautical School of Sagres (although a "school" also means a group of followers). There was no centre of navigational science or any supposed observatory, if compared to the modern definition of "observatory" or "navigational centre", as Russell makes very clear. The centre of his expeditions was actually at Lagos, further to the east along the Algarve coast. Later Portuguese voyages left from Belém, just west of Lisbon.

This was a time of many important discoveries: cartography was refined with the use of newly devised instruments, such as an improved astrolabe and improved sundial, maps were regularly updated and extended, and a revolutionary type of vessel known as the caravel was designed.

Prince Henry built a chapel next to his house in 1459, as he began to spend more time in the Sagres area in his later years. He died at Sagres on 13 November 1460.

The exact location of Henry’s School of Navigation is not known (it is popularly believed to have been destroyed by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake).

General description

The 16th century bullwark-like fortress was severely damaged during the Great Earthquake of 1755. It was restored in the mid 20th century, but there is still a 16th century turret present. After passing through the thick tunnel entrance, one sees a giant pebble compass rose ("Rosa dos Ventos") of 43 m diameter. Normally compass roses are divided into 32 segments, but strangely this one has 40 segments (probably an error of the 20th-century restorers). It is unlikely to date back to the time of Henry the Navigator.

The much-restored church "Nossa Senhora da Graça" dates from 1579. It replaced the original church of Prince Henry of 1459. It was also damaged by the earthquake of 1755. Some alterations to the church were made, such as the building of a new bell tower over the old charnel house of the cemetery. There are still a set of tombstones present. Inside this unpretentious church, the 17th century Baroque retable above the altar originates from the "Capela de Santa Catarina do Forte de Belixe" (St. Catherine's Chapel in Belixe Fortress), while the polychrome statues of St. Vincent and St. Francis were once part of the Franciscan convent on the Cape St. Vincent.

Next to the church stands a replica stone standard ("padrão"), used by the explorers to claim a newly discovered country.

At the end of the promontory stands a small lighthouse. The cape displays a unique flora, such as the "Armeria pseudarmeria". It is also a popular site for cliff fishing by the local population.

References

*Peter Russell, Prince Henry 'the Navigator': a Life (New Haven, 2000). The only really up-to-date study of Henry. It supersedes all the rest.
*Catholic Encyclopedia
*The Rough Guide to Portugal - 11th ed., March 2005; ISBN 1-84353-438-X
*Rentes de Carvalho J. - Portugal, um guia para amigos (in Dutch translation : Portugal); de Arbeiderspers, Amsterdam; 9th ed., August 1999; ISBN 90-295-3466-4