Cabo da Roca

Westernmost point in continental Europe.

At Cabo da Roca, the wind almost blew Grandpa’s dog away once, and that was on a nice day! According to the not so serious national myth, this is where ”the land ends and the sea begins.” Here stands one of Portugal’s oldest lighthouses (like many others built all the way down to Sesimbra, as the current ”blue coast” was initially called the ”black coast”). You can imagine the early sailors’ respect for the Atlantic, as in the height of summer, it feels like your nose might freeze off while you hold onto your hat with both hands.

But yes, there are also days with nice weather — which shouldn’t be a reason to get too close to the cliff edge. Yet, it still happens. There’s not much more of a sheer drop than the rest of the coast, but what remains is the story of spending fifteen minutes at the historic edge of the world. Skip the souvenir bar in favor of the almost-on-the-way Dom Quixote windmill.