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Sagres is home to the most impressive landscape in the Algarve. The force of Nature is so strong in this south-westerly tip of continental Europe that visitors will soon understand why ancient settlers deemed it sacred, how it lured 15th Century Portuguese explorers to set sail into the unknown and how it has managed to retain its original striking beauty. Sagres’ history has been defined by its geographic location and the stunning landscape of the Sagres and Cape St. Vincent promontories. The land’s-end feel of these 50 metre (164 feet)-high headlands dropping dramatically into the sea were a constant source of mystery and attraction to the region’s successive settlers as the various traces of their presence show. The most influential figure in Sagres’ history was Henry the Navigator, who found inspiration here to embark on his exploratory journeys, bringing fame to the region and leading to the creation of the town of Vila do Infante. Under his guidance, the area became a hub of maritime activity as cartographers, astronomers and mariners congregated, caravels were built and the exploration of the coast of Africa began.