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{{Infobox mountain
{{unreferenced|date=November 2007}}
| name = Cape Espichel
[[File:Cabo Espichel, Portugal, 2012-08-18, DD 08.JPG |thumb|400px|right|Cabo Espichel.]]
| other_name =
| photo = Cabo Espichel, Portugal, 2012-08-18, DD 08.JPG
| native_name = Cabo Espichel
| native_name_lang = pt
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| photo_caption = A view of the coastal cliffs of the promentory of Cabo Espichel
| map = Portugal
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| map_caption = Location of Cabo Espichel in continental Portugal
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| location = [[Castelo (Sesimbra)|Castelo]], [[Sesimbra]], Portugal
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| lat_NS = N
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| elevation = Cabo Espichel
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'''Cabo Espichel''' is a cape situated on the western coast of the [[Freguesia (Portugal)|civil parish]] of [[Castelo (Sesimbra)|Castelo]], [[Concelho|municipality]] of [[Sesimbra]], in the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Setúbal (district)|district of Setúbal]].


==History==
'''Cabo Espichel''' (lit. ''Cape Espichel'') is a cape located to the west of [[Sesimbra]], [[Portugal]]. Tourists are drawn there due to impressive views of its cliffs facing the [[Atlantic Ocean]].
[[File:Portugal caboespichel.jpg|thumb|235px|left|The 15th century Church and Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Cabo]]
[[File:Farol do Cabo Espichel.JPG|thumb|235px|left|The promontory of Cabo Espichel and the lighthouse of Cabo Espichel]]
[[File:Cabo Espichel - panoramio - singra13 (1).jpg|thumb|235px|left|A ruined hermitage on the cape]]
Following the Calcholitic, human tribes began to look for elevated locations in order provide a natural defense; there are vestiges encountered in the area of Outeiro Redondo and Zambujal, that indicate this preoccupation and conflicts.<ref name="AntasFerreira9">Mário Nuno Antas and Sofia Ferreira (2011), p.9</ref> During the Iron Age, there are documented references to the lands of Risco, farther to the west of Cabo Espichel, that was a largest undefended settlement at the time.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> Avieno in ''Orla Marítima'' named Cabo Espichel, ''Cabo Cêmpsico'', and was probably because the name was associated with the peoples that lived in the vicinity. Later, the Latin geographer, Estrabão, in his work ''Geographia 1'' called this area ''Promontorium Barbaricum''.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/>


At a time when Roman settlement persisted in the Iberian peninsula, the Roman presence on the cape was limited.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> This can be explained by the symbology that the Romans conferred on the capes, which they considered sacred, where the gods met at night.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> Notwithstanding, there are vestiges of the Roman Imperial cult in the Lapa do Bugio, situated in Zambujal, close to Sesimbra.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/>
The location is famous for the a sanctuary complex (''Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Cabo Espichel''), built extremely close to the edge of the tall cliffs, which includes a church still in use today.

Until today there have not been encountered any evidence of Muslim settlement, but the local toponymy has a few markers, such as the name ''Azóia'', that derived from ''Al Zawiya'' (meaning ''hermitage'').<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> Some Moorish coins were also discovered in Lapa do Fumo (but minted in Silves) and some ceramics attributed to hermits from the Lapa do Forte do Cavalo and Lapa do Coelho.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> During the Middle Ages, various legends attracted people to the site; it was a crucible of Portuguese nationalism, when on 29 July 1180, in the square of Cabo Espichel, D. Fuas Roupinho was able to obtain the nation's first naval victory against the Moors.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/>

There are various legends associated with the cult of Nossa Senhora da Cabo, many contradictory, that situate the devotion during this time. It is possible that the cult resulted from Christianization of other cults that appeared in the pre-history and continued to Moorish occupation.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> The cult, though, is certainly medieval dating from the 13th century, with the first references appearing in the 14th century (specifically in 1366) from a royal letter sent by King D. [[Peter I of Portugal|Pedro I]].<ref name=AntasFerreira9/>

Another medieval legend about the cape indicates that in 1215 a ship travelling to Lisbon was caught in a storm, tasking the crew.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> Haildebrat (the ships chaplin) decided to pray to an image, that he had in his cabin, but realized that it had disappeared.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> Desperate for divine intervention, they suddenly saw at the top of the cape a light, even during the height of the storm.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/> Later, when they arrive on land they encountered the disappeared image on the ship.<ref name=AntasFerreira9/>

==Geography==
[[File:Espichel.JPG|thumb|235px|The cliff face of limestone and breccia]]
Cabo Espichel is situated on the eastern coast of Portugal, along an extension of approximately {{convert|100|km|mi}} that occupies a region called the ''Bacia Lusitânica'' (BL), that occurred during the opening of the north Atlantic during Triassic.<ref name="Oliveria2">J. Oliveira et al. (2010), p.2</ref>

In tectonic terms, the BL is delimited by the Porto-Tomar fault and the Arrife-Vale fault in the eastern/lower Tagus and in the west by the Berlengas horst, corresponding to a ridge of intense tectonic subsistence along the north-northeast to south-southwest.<ref name=Oliveria2/><ref>Pena dos Reis et.al. (2008)</ref> .

The southern limit is located at an elevation south of Arrábida (at the Arrábida fault) and the southern limit corresponds to the watershed transition situated more to the north.<ref name=Oliveria2/><ref name="Ribeiro">Ribeiro et al. (1996)</ref> In addition to these faults, there are also faults with variable directions between east-west and northeast-southwest, that divide the basin into different tectonic-sedimentary areas, that could have influenced sediment deposition during Mesozoic.<ref name=Oliveria2/><ref name=Ribeiro/> The BL is filled with sediments between the late Triassic and late Cretaceous, including alternating layers of marine carbonates, clastic carbonate coastal sediments, fluvial and estuarine siliciclastic deposits, among others.<ref name=Oliveria2/>


Also famous, are the several [[dinosaur]] fossil [[trackway]]s exposed in some of the now tilted [[Jurassic]] [[stratum|strata]] which form the cape's cliffs. It is said that local superstition interpreted the [[fossil trackway|trackway]]s as the path taken by the Holy Virgin ("Nossa Senhora") when riding a giant mule from the ocean and up the cliffs, which led to the eventual construction of the convent at that location.
Also famous, are the several [[dinosaur]] fossil [[trackway]]s exposed in some of the now tilted [[Jurassic]] [[stratum|strata]] which form the cape's cliffs. It is said that local superstition interpreted the [[fossil trackway|trackway]]s as the path taken by the Holy Virgin ("Nossa Senhora") when riding a giant mule from the ocean and up the cliffs, which led to the eventual construction of the convent at that location.


==References==
{{coord|38.414|N|9.222|W|display=title|source:dewiki}}
===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}
===Sources===
* {{citation |title=Atlas of Mesozoic units, from the Espichel to the Carvoeiro Capes (Western Portugal) |first=J. |last=Oliveira |first2=C. |last2=Paiva Silva |first3=N. |last3=Pimental |issn=1645-0388 |language=Portuguese |volume=21 |issue=3 |publisher=e-Terra Online/GEOTIC – Sociedade Geológica de Portugal VIII Congresso Nacional de Geologia |year=2010}}
* {{citation |title=Guião Educativo da exposição “Um olhar sobre a Pré-História do Espichel” |url=http://www.clubesdearqueologia.org/attachments/article/150/(Gui_343o%20Educativo%20do%20Espichel).pdf |publisher=Cubes de Arquelogia/Museu de Arqueologia |language=Portuguese |location=Lisbon, Portugal |year=1 October 2011 |first=Mário Nuno |last=Antas |first2=Sofia |last2=Ferreira}}

{{commonscat|Cabo Espichel}}
{{commonscat|Cabo Espichel}}
[[Category:Headlands of Portugal|Espichel]]
[[Category:Headlands of Portugal|Espichel]]
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[[Category:Geography of Setúbal District]]
[[Category:Geography of Setúbal District]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Setúbal District]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Setúbal District]]

{{Setúbal-geo-stub}}

Revision as of 00:53, 19 September 2016

Cape Espichel
A view of the coastal cliffs of the promentory of Cabo Espichel
Highest point
ElevationCabo Espichel
Naming
Native nameCabo Espichel Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help)
Geography
Cape Espichel is located in Portugal
Cape Espichel
Cape Espichel
Location of Cabo Espichel in continental Portugal
LocationCastelo, Sesimbra, Portugal

Cabo Espichel is a cape situated on the western coast of the civil parish of Castelo, municipality of Sesimbra, in the Portuguese district of Setúbal.

History

The 15th century Church and Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Cabo
The promontory of Cabo Espichel and the lighthouse of Cabo Espichel
A ruined hermitage on the cape

Following the Calcholitic, human tribes began to look for elevated locations in order provide a natural defense; there are vestiges encountered in the area of Outeiro Redondo and Zambujal, that indicate this preoccupation and conflicts.[1] During the Iron Age, there are documented references to the lands of Risco, farther to the west of Cabo Espichel, that was a largest undefended settlement at the time.[1] Avieno in Orla Marítima named Cabo Espichel, Cabo Cêmpsico, and was probably because the name was associated with the peoples that lived in the vicinity. Later, the Latin geographer, Estrabão, in his work Geographia 1 called this area Promontorium Barbaricum.[1]

At a time when Roman settlement persisted in the Iberian peninsula, the Roman presence on the cape was limited.[1] This can be explained by the symbology that the Romans conferred on the capes, which they considered sacred, where the gods met at night.[1] Notwithstanding, there are vestiges of the Roman Imperial cult in the Lapa do Bugio, situated in Zambujal, close to Sesimbra.[1]

Until today there have not been encountered any evidence of Muslim settlement, but the local toponymy has a few markers, such as the name Azóia, that derived from Al Zawiya (meaning hermitage).[1] Some Moorish coins were also discovered in Lapa do Fumo (but minted in Silves) and some ceramics attributed to hermits from the Lapa do Forte do Cavalo and Lapa do Coelho.[1] During the Middle Ages, various legends attracted people to the site; it was a crucible of Portuguese nationalism, when on 29 July 1180, in the square of Cabo Espichel, D. Fuas Roupinho was able to obtain the nation's first naval victory against the Moors.[1]

There are various legends associated with the cult of Nossa Senhora da Cabo, many contradictory, that situate the devotion during this time. It is possible that the cult resulted from Christianization of other cults that appeared in the pre-history and continued to Moorish occupation.[1] The cult, though, is certainly medieval dating from the 13th century, with the first references appearing in the 14th century (specifically in 1366) from a royal letter sent by King D. Pedro I.[1]

Another medieval legend about the cape indicates that in 1215 a ship travelling to Lisbon was caught in a storm, tasking the crew.[1] Haildebrat (the ships chaplin) decided to pray to an image, that he had in his cabin, but realized that it had disappeared.[1] Desperate for divine intervention, they suddenly saw at the top of the cape a light, even during the height of the storm.[1] Later, when they arrive on land they encountered the disappeared image on the ship.[1]

Geography

The cliff face of limestone and breccia

Cabo Espichel is situated on the eastern coast of Portugal, along an extension of approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) that occupies a region called the Bacia Lusitânica (BL), that occurred during the opening of the north Atlantic during Triassic.[2]

In tectonic terms, the BL is delimited by the Porto-Tomar fault and the Arrife-Vale fault in the eastern/lower Tagus and in the west by the Berlengas horst, corresponding to a ridge of intense tectonic subsistence along the north-northeast to south-southwest.[2][3] .

The southern limit is located at an elevation south of Arrábida (at the Arrábida fault) and the southern limit corresponds to the watershed transition situated more to the north.[2][4] In addition to these faults, there are also faults with variable directions between east-west and northeast-southwest, that divide the basin into different tectonic-sedimentary areas, that could have influenced sediment deposition during Mesozoic.[2][4] The BL is filled with sediments between the late Triassic and late Cretaceous, including alternating layers of marine carbonates, clastic carbonate coastal sediments, fluvial and estuarine siliciclastic deposits, among others.[2]

Also famous, are the several dinosaur fossil trackways exposed in some of the now tilted Jurassic strata which form the cape's cliffs. It is said that local superstition interpreted the trackways as the path taken by the Holy Virgin ("Nossa Senhora") when riding a giant mule from the ocean and up the cliffs, which led to the eventual construction of the convent at that location.

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Mário Nuno Antas and Sofia Ferreira (2011), p.9
  2. ^ a b c d e J. Oliveira et al. (2010), p.2
  3. ^ Pena dos Reis et.al. (2008)
  4. ^ a b Ribeiro et al. (1996)

Sources

  • Oliveira, J.; Paiva Silva, C.; Pimental, N. (2010), Atlas of Mesozoic units, from the Espichel to the Carvoeiro Capes (Western Portugal) (in Portuguese), vol. 21, e-Terra Online/GEOTIC – Sociedade Geológica de Portugal VIII Congresso Nacional de Geologia, ISSN 1645-0388
  • Antas, Mário Nuno; Ferreira, Sofia (1 October 2011), Guião Educativo da exposição “Um olhar sobre a Pré-História do Espichel” (PDF) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Cubes de Arquelogia/Museu de Arqueologia{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)