The Abandoned Sanctuary at the Edge of Portugal — Cabo Espichel and Lady of the cape

Cabo Espichel is a dramatic, windswept headland in Portugal, home to the Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Cabo (Our Lady of the Cape Sanctuary), a major pilgrimage site linked to Marian apparitions and legends, featuring stunning cliffs, dinosaur footprints, and a historic church with pilgrim lodgings. "Our Lady of the Cape" refers to the Virgin Mary venerated there, appearing to fishermen and establishing it as a sacred spot, with the sanctuary and associated chapels (like the Ermida da Memória) marking centuries of faith, contrasting with the raw, prehistoric landscape.
Key Aspects of Cabo Espichel & Our Lady of the Cape:
The Sanctuary: A beautiful 17th/18th-century complex with a church, baroque interiors, and arcaded pilgrim houses (Casa dos Círios) that once housed devotees, as noted on this Portugal Travel Guide page.
Nossa Senhora do Cabo: The Virgin Mary, central to the site's fame, said to have appeared rising from the sea, leading to intense devotion.
Ermida da Memória: A small, ancient chapel with stunning blue azulejo tiles, marking the spot of the apparition, per this Bucket List Portugal article and this Portugal Travel Guide page.
Dinosaur Footprints: Unique fossilized dinosaur tracks (Sauropods and Theropods) are visible on the cliffs, adding a prehistoric dimension and famously mistaken for the Virgin's mule, according to this Sesimbra guide and this Bucket List Portugal article.
Dramatic Landscape: Towering cliffs, rough seas, and an isolated feel make it an "end of the world" location, as described on this Portugal Travel Guide page and this Sesimbra guide.
In essence, Cabo Espichel is the physical place where the spiritual devotion to Our Lady of the Cape flourishes amidst a unique geological and historical landscape.

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Santuário da Senhora do Cabo
Senhora do Cabo sanctuary
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Santuário do Cabo Espichel

Portugal west coast cliffs
Cabo Espichel lighthouse
Lisbon day trip to Cabo Espichel
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Cabo Espichel dinosaur footprints
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Costa da Caparica Cabo Espichel
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Our Lady of the Cape sanctuary
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