ZPE Cabo Espichel

Category: Nature > Reserva natural

District: Setúbal > Sesimbra > Serra da Azoia

Location

The Cabo Espichel ZPE is located in the Serra da Azoia, in the municipality of Sesimbra. This promontory juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, marking the southwestern tip of the Setúbal Peninsula. Its surroundings are characterized by vertiginous cliffs that overlook the sea, offering wide views. The Baía dos Lagosteiros, with its uniqueness, can be glimpsed from the heights of the cape. This natural area is defined to the south and west by the ocean, and to the north by the National Road 379 and the Ribeira dos Caixeiros.

Landscape and Biodiversity

The landscape of the Cabo Espichel ZPE is marked by its wild nature and the vastness of the Atlantic. It is a place of scenic beauty, where the horizon extends without barriers. The area is recognized for its specific biodiversity, housing, for example, the trovisco-do-espichel (Euphorbia pedroi), a pachycaul shrub that is a local endemism, underscoring the ecological uniqueness of this protected area. The existing trails allow for the exploration of the diversity of its natural environments.

Prehistoric Remains

The Cabo Espichel ZPE holds a fascinating record of prehistoric life. In the cliffs bordering the Baía dos Lagosteiros and other nearby points, paleoichnological sites of great importance have been discovered. These contain a large number of dinosaur footprints, dating back approximately 129 million years, belonging to the Lower Cretaceous period. It is possible to observe remains of carnivorous dinosaurs, such as theropods, and herbivores, including sauropods and ornithopods, in areas classified as the Natural Monument of Pedra da Mua and the Natural Monument of Lagosteiros.

Architectural Legacy

Integrated within the cape area, the complex of the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Cabo Espichel constitutes an important architectural and cultural ensemble. This heritage includes the Church of Nossa Senhora do Cabo, the Ermida da Memória, the Casa dos Círios, the Terreiro, a Cruzeiro, the Casa da Água, and an Aqueduct. These structures, witnesses to centuries of history and devotion, confer a distinct cultural and symbolic dimension to the site, complementing the natural grandeur of the cape.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt