Budens - Vila do Bispo 20 Kms

This is a journey through the Nature Park of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentina Coast. It passes through impressive schist cliffs on the west coast and limestone cliffs on the south coast. You start off in Budens, a village where mention should be made to the Mother Church. Heading down towards the coast, in the area known as Boca do Rio (river mouth), you can visit the Fort of St Louis or of Almádena. You then return to the road linking Budens to Raposeira to visit the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the site where Henry the Navigator used to pray. Today it is a national monument. You then arrive in the village of Raposeira. Here you can visit the Raposeira Mother Church. Turn off onto the access road to Ingrina to find the Menir do Padrão, the only such monolith to be erected in this area.

Vila do Bispo > Sagres 11km

In Vila do Bispo you can visit the Mother Church of Our Lady of the Conception, a traditional wool workshop “Fios com História” and taste some goose barnacles. We recommend a detour to the Praia do Castelejo beach where the Castelejo lookout point is located.Heading off in the direction of Sagres, taking the old road, you can stop at Monte Salema and take a look at the collection of 9 monumental and enigmatic stones. These are the menhir monoliths of Monte dos Amantes.

Continuing onto Sagres, a town of world renown due to its geographic location and due to the fortress that was built at the request of Henry the Navigator. Head down to the traditional fishing harbour (10) and visit the ruins of Baleeira Fort (11). Then you can proceed on to Sagres Fortress (12), classified as a national monument. Next you can visit the Fort of Saint Anthony of Beliche (13).Cape S. Vicente > Carrapateira 30kmProceed on to Cape Saint Vicente (14), the most southwestern point in continental Europe, known as the “the end of the world” and a reference point in sea routes between the 13th and 16th century. Here you can visit the Cape Saint Vicente Fort Complex (15) and enjoy the panoramic view over the sea and the impressive 100m high cliffs. Sagres Biogenetic Reserve (16) lies next to the Praia do Beliche (beach). Turn around and head back up towards Vila do Bispo taking the road EN268 to Aljezur.

Proceed on to Cape Saint Vicente (14), the most southwestern point in continental Europe, known as the “the end of the world” and a reference point in sea routes between the 13th and 16th century. Here you can visit the Cape Saint Vicente Fort Complex (15) and enjoy the panoramic view over the sea and the impressive 100m high cliffs. Sagres Biogenetic Reserve (16) lies next to the Praia do Beliche (beach). Turn around and head back up towards Vila do Bispo taking the road EN268 to Aljezur.

The next stop is in the village of Carrapateira. Carrapateira Fort (17) has walls made of schist from the region and surrounds Carrapateira Mother Church (18). For nature lovers we suggest a small trip leaving from Carrapateira in the direction of the Ilha do Forno, to see the traditional fishing harbour of Carrapateira (19). On the road to the Praia da Bordeira beach you come across the Ribeira da Carrapateira (Brook), which fulfils the role of “refuelling” spot in the migration process of water birds. On the road between Carrapateira and Bordeira you come across a vast area of dense pine trees known as the Pinhal de Bordalete (Bordalete Pine-Grove) (20). You arrive in the village of Bordeira and then can visit the Mother Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation (21). Half a kilometre before Aljezur make a turn to the left towards Arrifana, a village framed by an expanse of sand sheltered by the cliffs with a picturesque fishing harbour (22). Arrifana Fort and lookout point (23) at the top of the cliff are well worth a visit. From here you can see the Pedra da Agulha, a gigantic rock sticking out of the middle of the sea.