Odemira. Vila Nova de Milfontes. Cavaleiro. Farol Cabo Sardão. Porto das Barcas. Zambujeira do Mar.

The Cabo Sardão Lighthouse is located at Ponta do Cavaleiro in the village of Odemira, in the parish of São Teotónio, at the westernmost point of the Alentejo region of Portugal.
The lighthouse consists of a white quadrangular masonry tower, topped by a red cylindrical lantern. There is also a lengthy annex building, together with small staff quarters. Unusually, the tower is built on the land side of the annex, whereas others of similar design in Portugal have the tower on the sea side. This has given rise to the belief that the builder may have rotated the plans by 180 degrees by accident. The tower is 17 metres (56 ft) meters high. Its construction was first proposed and approved in 1883. However, no action was taken until a Lighthouse Commission was formed in 1902 and operations only began on 15 April 1915. The lighthouse was electrified in 1950, with the installation of generators, at which time the light source was changed from petroleum gas to a 3000 watt bulb. It was connected to the public distribution network in 1984. The power of the light source was reduced and a 1000-watt bulb was installed.
While the lighthouse can today be easily reached by car and is next to a popular viewpoint, particularly for ornithologists, until the 1950s the delivery of mail had to be carried out by a courier, involving a return trip on foot of more than 20 kilometers along an almost impassable path.

Zambujeira do Mar is a former civil parish in the municipality of Odemira, Alentejo region, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the parish São Teotónio. Odemira Municipality in the Portuguese. It has a population of 911 inhabitants, dispersed over an area of 42.96 square kilometres (16.59 sq mi).
The most recent civil parish established in Odemira, Zambujeira do Mar was deannexed from the neighbouring civil parish of São Teotónio on 30 June 1989. It merged back into São Teotónio in 2013.
As its name implies, Zambujeira do Mar is located along the western coast of the Alentejo, south of Cabo Sardão, an area cut by various valleys, cliffs and faults, interspersed by small beaches consisting of clear fine sands, such as Zambujeira, Alteirinhos, Nossa Senhora e Tonel. The coast of Zambujeira is included within the Nature Park of the Southwest Alentejo and St. Vincent Coast (Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina), covering the various folding clifftops and small beaches/coves of the coast. In addition to the central coastal beach of Zambujeira, the beaches of Alteirinhos, Nossa Senhora, Arquinha and Tonel are geologically significant, as well as attracting summer tourists and vacationers.

Vila Nova de Milfontes is the quintessential Alentejo coastal town, a delight of whitewashed houses and authentic Portuguese charm. The town sits on a magnificent stretch of the Alentejo coast, where the serene Mira River meets the wild power of the Atlantic. This setting offers both tranquil estuary beaches suitable for families and wild, windswept beaches for surfing.
The Portuguese adore Vila Nova de Milfontes for their holidays. During the summer, the town transforms into a vibrant resort, its streets buzzing with holiday spirit that draws families from across the country. For the rest of the year, it returns to the unhurried pace of the Alentejo, a time when its authentic, laid-back character truly comes to the fore.
The town itself gives way to a landscape of raw, natural drama. This is the coastline of the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Natural Park, a protected expanse of vast, windswept beaches pounded by powerful surfing waves and rugged cliffs traced by the spectacular Rota Vicentina hiking trail. With a car, Vila Nova de Milfontes makes an ideal base for exploring the western Alentejo, with day trips to Porto Covo, Zambujeira do Mar, Odemira and Sines.
Whilst still largely undiscovered by international visitors, Milfontes offers an authentic Portuguese holiday and a taste of Portugal before mass tourism. This guide will provide everything you need to plan the perfect visit to this truly special destination.