Sagres Villas

Destination Information

Sagres is a small and very historic fishing port on the southernmost tip of Portugal’s Algarve region, where Europe confronts the mighty Atlantic Ocean. It was from here that Portuguese ships set sail in the Middle Ages on the first voyages of Atlantic navigation, during which the discovery and exploration of the African coast took place.

Cape St Vincent has always been a sacred spot and the area around Sagres is dotted with standing stones, or menhirs. The wonderful coastline contrasts vast sandy beaches and smaller  coves with huge caverns and hollows sculpted from the cliffs by the restless ocean.

The Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentinais surrounds the Martinhal resort and is renowned as an area of natural beauty, home to over 100 rare and endemic plants species and a vast array of birdlife. The region is also stepped in history and offers cultural discovery including the 10th-century Moorish castle at Aljezur and various 17th-century cliff-top defences.

Famous for its surfing, quaint fishing villages and a great base to discover the 'real' Portugal, Sagres and environs is very different to the more commercial aspects of the Algarve.

Beaches

Praia do Martinhal (Blue Flag)

Facilities: Disabled access, Sunshade rental, Surfing, Bodyboard, Windsurfing, Bar, Restaurant

2km from Sagres, Martinhal Beach is a large expanse of sand with the Atlantic providing regular waves appreciated by surfers and windsurfers alike. Off the coast various small islets have formed, home to various marine species.

Events and festivals

February (or occasionally March) - Sagres Carnival - An annual celebration which takes place on Shrove Tuesday

February 21st - Algarve Carnival

March 24th - "Festa de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação" (Feast of Our Lady of the Incarnation), takes place in nearby Raposeira

Good Friday - The statues of the Virgin Mary and Christ are taken in a procession through the town

April 25th - Liberation Day, National holiday

May 1st - May Day (or Labour Day), National holiday - May Day is a day for celebrations and traditionally the festivities include dancing and music as well as heading into the countryside for a picnic lunch

June 10th - Portugal Day, National Holiday

August 7th/8th & 20th/21st - Barão de S. Miguel festivals

August 15th - Assumption of the Virgin, National holiday

August 16th/17th - Sagres Festival - In honour of the patron saint Nossa Senhora da Graça - a procession of boats make their way to Cabo de S. Vicente as part of the celebrations

August 20th - 22nd - Burgau Festival

August 29th - "Festa do Banho 29" (Bathing party) - Celebrating an old tradition when villagers came down from the hills to celebrate summer and spent the night on the beach enjoying picnics and a dip in the sea!

2nd weekend in September - Annual festival and fair in nearby Raposeira

3rd weekend in September - Annual fair in nearby Vila do Bispo

October 5th - Republic Day, National holiday

November 1st - All Saints Day, National holiday

December 1st - Independence Day, National holiday

December 8th - Immaculate Conception, National holiday

Shopping

Sagres market:

• Monthly market, in front of the market hall on the 1st Friday of every month

Climate data for this region.

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