In 779, the mortal remains of St. Vincent, the martyr of Saragossa, are brouht to Sagres from Valencia. There, they are deposited at the celebrated Church of the Crows.
The Cape possessed religious importance until the age of the discoveries. Pilgrimages to St. Vincent's grave went on even under the occupation of the Arabs
In the 15º century the region of Vila do Bispo and Sagres, until then known as Finisterra (End of the world), gets a prominent place in history. The third son of king João I and Philippa of Lancaster, the famous Henry the Navigator, became Governor of the Algarve. (chronology) He already owned houses in Lagos and Raposeira when he in 1443 created the new village “Vila de Infante” , most likely on the Promontory of Sagres. He was aware of the enormous importance of the sea as a source for revenues, financing and promoting many voyages. Although he himself never partook in the Discoveries, is he to be considered the father of the Portuguese Colonial Empire.
>Little remains of the place due to enormous erosion from natural forces and historical events. Sir Francis Drake, the famous British corsair, attacked, occupied and destroyed it in 1587
Vila do Bispo was donated to the bishop of the Algarve, hence its name, and granted town rights in 1633.
It suffered great damages with the earthquake of 1755.