In the 16th-century glory days of worldwide maritime exploration, Portugal was one of the most important countries in the world, with interests in Brazil, India, China, and Africa. With riches arriving from far and wide, the country built a series of defensive outposts to guard Lisbon, the capital city, including at Cabo da Roca. Today you can walk around (but not inside) the current lighthouse, which was built in the 18th century; see the nearby church with its blue and white azuelo tiles; and stand on the windswept headland and imagine mariners heading out to the New World, more than 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) away.
Cabo da Roca is a popular stop on guided tours of the region, which also take in the nearby hilltop town of Sintra and typically provide round-trip transportation from Lisbon.