Camões described the Roca as the place "where the land ends and the sea begins". The energy that emanates from this place, where the cliff falls steeply over the ocean - the granite wall, almost upright, has a vertical drop of more than a hundred metres -, is associated with the fact that it is the westernmost point of Europe, the former Roman Promontorium Magnum.

 

It  is a natural viewpoint par excellence of the sea, which, in clear days, allows you to see Berlengas islands. The 'Cruzeiro do Cabo da Roca' the westernmost point of Europe and the lighthouse, a few meters away from the 'Cruzeiro', indicates the proximity of land to those who navigate off the imposing granite cliff 140 meters above the vast Atlantic Ocean. However, it is not the highest point of the Portuguese coast.

 

The evident tip of a coastline of high cliffs, this cape dominates one of the busiest stretches of the Portuguese coast where, to the north and to the mouth of the Falcão River, cliffs and pitfalls, shoals and skerries and small hidden beaches face the permanent onslaught of the sea. 

 

The nature is rough next to 'Cabo da Roca' and in the coastal area, covering the ground with bushes, which in spring are filled with a thousand colors. In addition to these, some endemics appears, Armeria pseudarmeria or Omphalodes kuzinskyanae characteristic of Sintra-Cascais Nature Park.

 

This  territory has an invaluable environmental value. Indeed, the difficulty of access to the coast (low habitat disturbance level) and a ground cover (ease of access to the soil) allow a significant presence or resident birds such as the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) or Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo) or migratory birds like the Alpine Swift (Apus melba) and others.

 

Nearby stand out as unique elements Pedra da Ursa (female Bear Rock) and Espinhaço Fort or Nossa Senhora da Roca Fort.