Fortaleza de Sagres - Windrose

(Local Name: Rosa dos Ventos) After passing through the gate of Fortaleza de Sagres the large Rosa dos Ventos (windrose) can be seen to the left. It consists of a stone circle, 43m/140ft in diameter. For centuries is was overgrown with grass and it was between 1918 and 1959 when it was finally uncovered. It probably dates from the 15th C., but its exact function is unclear. Usually wind roses have only 32 segments, but that at Sagres has 48 lines runing from the center of the circle to its circumference.