After having visited (unknowingly) 2 locations of this tentative WHS in Madeira (Funchal) and the Azores (Angra do Heroismo being already inscribed) in 2015, this time round in July 2020 I made an effort to visit the 3 locations in mainland Portugal, namely Sagres, Lagos and Silves.

While beach hopping in the Algarve, we made an extra effort to explore Sagres and Lagos. In the towns proper, very little traces of history remain, but if you head towards the “Land of the Prince”, several promontories such as Ponta da Piedade, Cape St. Vincent and Sagres Point offer not only pleasant viewpoints and geological formations but also fortifications such as Fortaleza de Sagres (and Fortaleza do Beliche). In ancient times this was viewed as finis terrae, the end of the known world.

The Sites of Globalisation are portrayed on the UNESCO website as “places of enormous cultural value, both tangible and symbolic, that bear witness of the genesis of ocean expansion and the Discoveries and of new interactions among worlds and civilisations. This network of places established a new maritime route that brought together landscapes, cultures and symbols, but also scientific, technological, economic and social progress. In this space in time and place, a series of technological, geo-strategic and artistic innovations were established, which left their mark on humanity, thereby making the discovery of the “New World” possible”. Already in this superlative description, one can easily notice that most of the OUV these sites might have is mostly symbolic and not very tangible.

In a way it draws on the Silk Route WHS nomination, but the tangible heritage of the Sites of Globalization pales in comparison. The Algarve was “a first quay” which was at the origin of the creation of a global world through the actions of Europe in the coming centuries. This was the phase of launching Europe into the process of globalization, which soon continued in the above mentioned locations on the islands of Madeira and the Azores.

Silves, perhaps, is the only exception of the 3 locations I visited this time round. It is a worthwhile stop when travelling from one beach to the next in Algarve. It is the former capital of the Kingdom of the Algarve and is a pretty walled town situated on a hill above the Arade River. The Silves Castle is located on the top of the hill and it is possible to visit and walk on parts of the Almohad town wall for a small fee. I paid for the ticket mostly because I was curious to see the oldest sugar mill in the Iberian peninsula dating from the 15th century, specifically mentioned on the UNESCO website. Well, it was a big let down and certainly not worth the ticket, but the Moorish remains inside the castle were certainly worth viewing. There are a number of free parking spaces close to the castle entrance and the Silves cathedral with the Manueline portico.

All in all, even though I enjoyed my visits, I don't think that this tentative WHS possesses any tangible OUV which would add value to the WH list.