The imposing Sagres Fortress is the human extension of the natural cliff and, for centuries, was the main stronghold of a geostrategic maritime defensive system. In 1443, Prince Henry the Navigator established the Vila do Infante on the Sagres promontory, where he spent his final days and from where several important documents originated before his death in 1460. Today, little remains of that original settlement except for traces such as a saw-tooth wall, a cistern tower, the foundations of a windbreak wall, the enigmatic “wind rose,” and the Correnteza, now part of the exhibition area.

Most structures date from the 16th century or later, including the Church of Our Lady of Grace, the bastioned wall, the former governor’s residence, and a building speculated to be Prince Henry’s house. The site’s mythical aura is enhanced by its dramatic setting and the architectural interventions of the 1990s, which aimed to respect the monument’s history while making it functional for visitors. The Correnteza area now houses an exhibition centre and visitor facilities, enhancing the experience of this historic place of memory.