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From the cult of N. Sra. Do Cabo (Our Lady of the Cape) and fifteenth century capela da Memória (Memory Chapel), Kings Pedro II (devotee of this cult) and José I ordered the construction in the eighteenth century, of a sanctuary that declined in centuries XIX-XX. The sanctuary brings together:
- Nossa Senhora do Cabo Church, built from 1701-1707 in plain style, with painted illusionistic ceiling (1740) by Lourenço da Cunha. The church has been assigned probably to the royal architect João Antunes or Father Francisco Tinoco da Silva. The interior seems to corroborate the 1st hypothesis, with the use of white and black marbles. It has 10 altars with vulgar carving (1718-1722), on which are exhibited aspects of the Virgin life (1743). In the presbytery, the altarpiece, National style, houses the image of Our Lady of the Cape, the royal tribune is from 1770. In the sacristy there are works of Covilhã Master;
- Casa dos Círios (Tapers House) consists of 2 wings of hostels (and dwellings for the pilgrims) built after 1715 and extended from 1745 to 1760, creating two lines leading to the church and accentuate the scenery of the temple. Between the wings is the yard;
- Casa da Água (Water House), 1770, where it ends the Espichel or Azóia aqueduct, have inside a rocaille fountain and tiled walls; and
- Casa da Ópera (Opera House), nineteenth century, wich construction was ordered by King José I, included scenarios and accommodations for the public and artists. There performed famous companies, including Italians.
A few meters from the shrine is Ermida da Memória (Chapel of Remembrance).
Also note the set of 3 Crosses, built in the 1st half of the eighteenth century, part of the pilgrimage to the shrine and pilgrimage circuit, following the main access road.
The legend about Our Lady of The Cape, says the virgin's image have come out of the sea on the back of a jumentinha (a young female donkey) is related to the existence of dinosaur footprints on inclined layers nearby.