Cabo da Roca
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca) is a cape that forms the westernmost point of mainland Europe (and of mainland Portugal). It was known to the Romans as 'Promontorium Magnum'.
It is located in Lisbon district, 40 kilometres west of Lisbon and 18 kilometres west of Sintra in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Its coordinates, , are inscribed on a stone plaque on the monument at the site. The cliff rises out of the Atlantic Ocean to approximately 140 metres above sea level. The lighthouse along with a tourist shop sit on top of the cliff.
The cape is a popular tourist attraction. Every Sunday morning it is common to see many bikers gathered to share their thoughts and experiences about motorcycles.
Poet Luís de Camões defined Cabo da Roca as the place "where the land ends and the sea begins" (Portuguese: "Onde a terra acaba e o mar começa"). Compare Cape Finisterre (literally End of land) in Spain, Finistère in France, and Land's End in the United Kingdom.
