Sacred Ground at the End of the Earth

The Romans called it the Promontorium Sacrum – Sacred Ground. They believed it was where the world ended, because in their time it was exactly that. Beyond the horizon there was nothing, just endless uncertainty. People believed it was where the sun set sizzling into the ocean. It possessed great magical significance to the Romans, the Greeks and to the many civilizations that arrived after them.

Few places on the globe hold a greater geographical and historical importance than  Cabo de Sao Vincente the most  South Western corner of Portugal. 

It juts out into the Atlantic like a stubbed toe and has been a major maritime landfall for sailors for centuries. It would be the last land  that  Vasco De Gama, Christopher Columbus and so many brave explores would see as they  ventured into the unknown. They would come ashore here, scale the cliffs and pray for a safe return. Pray hard I would imagine. After all the world is flat, there are sea monsters and demons.

A visitor, not aware of the geopolitical  significance of this place, would none the less be absolutely mind-blown by the shear natural beauty on display. It is magnificant in it’s raw grandeur. It is  incredibly rocky and barren, yet at the same time lush with exotic vegetation from Europe,  Africa and the Mediterranean. Rich golden beaches lie on either side of the promontory and add to the wow factor.

On a crystal clear day in September, the soft sky melts into deep blue of the Atlantic horizon, in turn the mighty ocean crashes relentlessly on stoic cliffs that are 200 feet high.

It is a vista so vast that I found it difficult to process. Standing there basking in this wonderment leaves a mortal rather humbled.

Dozens of species of birds gather here in the fall as they gauge the winds that will wing them south to Africa. And the winds can be fierce,  for this is open ocean. 

The east coast of the new world is 3,600 miles off;  Rio De Janeiro is some 4,700 miles. Try to imagine tiny wooden caravels no more than 60 feet long jammed to the rails with crew and rations heading out to lands unknown. 

A fair wind would send them on their way, while a ferocious northerly could easily send a sailor to the bottom with haste. At least 9 major maritime battles were fought in these waters with Horatio Nelson and Sir Francis Drake getting in on the action.

In the 1400’s tiny Portugal lead the world in the Age of Discovery opening trade routes to Africa, South America, and India. Their fearless adventurers changed the way people the world was understood. Prince Henry the Navigator is believed to be the forefather of modern navigation and it is said that he had a school of study on Cabo de Sao Vincente in the 1400’s. By melding the wisdom of seafarers,  cartographers, scientists, and astronomers the Portuguese we able to understand the turns of the sea and take full advantage of their geographical location.

Today the navigational light at Sagres shines some 60 Km out over the ocean guiding sailors back to this Sacred Ground, their prayers of a safe journey filled.