In the mid-fourteenth century, a chapel was built to save an image of the Virgin, venerated long on top of the cliff where it was found. Around it grew modests homes to receive pilgrims in there demand, giving later (1715) place the construction of hostels with houses and shops, also known as House of Tapers.

To Lay of the Cape flock various and numerous groups of candles (large groups of pilgrims). Was the designated Candle Saloio (pilgrims nearby the capital) that fitted encouraging the construction of the sanctuary, as can be read on a plaque on the wall of the south side inns: “Homes of Our Lady cable made by Syrian account of. hillbillies in the year 1757 p. accommodation of stewards that may give bodo “.

Architectural ensemble of the Sanctuary

The Church of Our Lady of the Cape seventeenth century has his back to the sea. The church interior is decorated with baroque, votive paintings and frescoes. Also inside the church is a body with final characteristics of the century. XVIII / beginning of the century. XIX, possibly made in the workshop of Joaquim António Peres Fontanes.

On each side of the church there is a queue of accommodation for pilgrims called House of Tapers or simply inns, forming the Terreiro at Cape Espichel in the background one can see a cruise, where truly begins the Sanctuary.

Next to the church is the Chapel of Remembrance, a vaulted chapel, with blue tile panels and white inside. Outside are two pictures of tiled images that are highly degraded.

Next to the hostels are the ruins of the “Opera House”, built in 1770. It was designed to provide cultural activities, especially theater, for the pilgrims and revelers, having been used in shows promoted by the royal family, which also remained in the sanctuary throughout the festival period. In his stage act reached the greatest artists and theater groups from Europe, especially Italians, and the building divisions of support that ensured the permanence of these groups during the festivities.

Out of space itself the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape, but still within the set is the Water House and the Aqueduct at Cape Espichel, very important buildings to the Sanctuary because this led to drinking water.

In the year 1165 was created the Parish of Our Lady of Sesimbra Castle.

The present church is from the early eighteenth century, 1721, as it suffered serious damage over the centuries.

In the 20th century, during 1955 the church loses faithful because a new church was born, much closer to the population. And the Castle Church begins to degrade with the ceiling dropping.

In order to rehabilitate the church, there were several interventions between 1965 and 2001, the year it was again open to the public.

This reopening coincides with nine centuries of history, eight years of the charter letter which laid the foundation for the Church of Our Lady of the Castle.

Weakly manned, the fortification of Sesimbra was initially taken by the forces of King Afonso Henriques (1112-1185) on February 21, 1165, that have carried out repairs and reinforcements in defense.

The conquest of Silves Castle in 1189 by the forces of King Sancho I (1185-1211), raised a Muslim counter-offensive that resulted not only in loss of Silves as much of the region of Alentejo, to the left bank of the Tagus river. The inhabitants of Sesimbra, alerted by Alcacer do Sal and fall sick with fever who then raging in the kingdom, left the village, which thereby was occupied and devastated by the forces of Caliph Abu Yusuf Ya’qub Almohad al-Mansur (1191).

Sancho I (1185-1211) reapossou up this village around 1200 with the help of Crusaders Northern Europe (then usually called francs), which offered land for colonization. On 15 August 1201 the sovereign granted Foral Charter to the village, determining his reconstruction of the castle “from the ground up.” This charter was confirmed by his son and successor, Alfonso II of Portugal (1211-1223).

The mouth of the River Sado, the Arrábida, the cape Espichel, the lagoon of Albufeira and the beach of Meco are part of the natural landscape of Sesimbra.

There are traces of human presence in Sesimbra from the Chalcolithic period (3000 BC). In the Iron Age (VIII-II) was inhabited by cempsos at the origin of vila name.

In August 15, 1201 was granteda Charter to the inhabitants of Sesimbra , a royal document that applies the rights and duties.

It was the reign of King Dinis, sixth king of Portugal, who created the Ribeira de Varzim Sesimbra, a small fishing village by the sea.

The village has grown and became the village Age of Discovery.

Sesimbra became an important port of shipbuilding and ship supplies.