FÁTIMA

The town's name originates from the legend of a Moorish princess named Fatima, who was abducted by a crusading Christian knight, Gonçalo Hermigues, and brought to a small village in the Serra de Aire hills within the newly formed Kingdom of Portugal. According to Western Catholic tradition, Fatima fell in love with her captor and embraced Christianity to marry him, adopting the name Oureana. For much of its history, Fátima remained a quiet and insignificant hamlet until May 13th, 1917, when three young shepherd children witnessed apparitions of the Virgin Mary in a grazing area known as Cova da Iria, just outside the town.

These cousins, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, experienced recurring visions on the 13th day of each subsequent month until October. During these apparitions, they were imparted with three secrets that were interpreted as prophecies concerning events such as the Second World War, the rise and fall of Communism, and the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. In response to skepticism and criticism from locals, the children requested a sign from the "Virgin of the Rosary" to validate their experiences. During the final apparition, witnessed by 70,000 people, a phenomenon known as "The Miracle of the Sun" occurred. Despite the pouring rain, spectators reported seeing the sun spin on its axis and emit multicolored rays of light, with subsequent claims of miraculous healings in the days that followed.

Since the revelations given to the shepherd children, there has been ongoing investigation, debate, and scrutiny from both church officials and academics. For believers, the events of October 13th, 1917, serve as evidence of the divine, a conviction further supported by official recognition from the Vatican in 1930. However, pragmatists suggest that these events could be explained by local natural atmospheric phenomena.

Even today, speculation surrounds the three secrets disclosed to the children, who were aged seven, nine, and ten at the time. The first two revelations are widely known: the first described "Hell," while the second predicted the swift conclusion of the First World War and warned of a more devastating conflict if the world did not cease offending God. The third prophecy was conveyed in writing to the Vatican in 1941 by Lúcia, who had entered a convent in 1928. She stipulated that it should not be disclosed before 1960. To date, no Pope has revealed its contents. Lúcia outlived her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta, who succumbed to the Spanish flu pandemic. She lived a devout life as a Carmelite Nun until 2005 and is likely to receive the same honour as her cousins, being beatified in the future.

The sanctuary has been developed in several phases over time, centred on the area of Cova da Iria, where the three children witnessed the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary, later revered as Our Lady of Fátima. Comprising various buildings, shrines, and monuments, the sanctuary stands as a symbol of the religious, political, and social impact of the event. At the heart of the complex lies the humble Chapel of the Apparitions and its shelter, marking the precise location where many of the events are believed to have occurred. This spot holds special significance as the place where the initial pilgrims honoured the Marian apparitions, fostering a deep sense of reverence among visitors.

CHAPEL OF THE APPARATIONS

During the apparition on October 13th, Mary instructed Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta to erect a chapel in her honour. Construction commenced in 1919 at the very site of five of the six apparitions. However, on March 6th, 1922, anti-Catholic adversaries planted a bomb inside the unfinished shrine, causing significant damage and necessitating the second phase of construction. The chapel reopened on January 13th, 1923. Today, the Chapel of the Apparitions is enclosed in glass, open on one side. It was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II during his first visit in 1982.

Inside, visitors encounter a sculpture of Our Lady positioned where she appeared under an oak tree. Crafted by José Ferreira Thedim from Brazilian cedarwood, the sculpture stands just over one meter tall. Cardinal Aloisi Masella, a pontifical legate, solemnly crowned the statue on May 13th, 1946. This crown, fashioned from solid gold weighing 1.2 kg, is adorned with 313 pearls and 2679 precious stones. Remarkably, it also contains a bullet removed from John Paul II following his assassination attempt in 1981. The statuette only wears this crown on special occasions.

THE BASILICA

Dominating the vast 150,000 square meters (37 acres) plaza at the Sanctuary is the magnificent neo-classical limestone Basilica, boasting a bell tower soaring 65 meters (213 ft) high. Crowned atop is a 7KG bronze crown, while a white marble statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, standing 4.73 meters tall, adorns a niche on the tower's face. Inside the tower resides a 62-bell carillon, with the largest bell weighing approximately 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) and a clapper weighing 90 kilograms (200 lb). Extending from the tower are two long colonnades, linking it with the extensive conventual and hospital buildings.

Construction of the Basilica commenced on May 13th, 1928, and culminated in its consecration in October 1953. Within, visitors find altars dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the Rosary, with a painting above the high altar depicting Our Lady delivering her messages to the children. The basilica serves as the final resting place for all three shepherd children, with their tombs situated behind the high altar.
Open for mass from 07h30.
360 Rua de Santa Isabel, 2495-424, Fátima, Portugal. | 39º 37' 55.7" N | 08º 40' 18.4" W
+351 249 539 600 | info@fatima.pt |  Website

AROUND THE SANCTUARY

The Big Holm Oak stands as a replacement for the tree where the three shepherd children awaited the apparitions of Mary, after the original was destroyed by over-enthusiastic relic hunters. Its original location is within the Chapel of the Apparitions. The Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, positioned atop a pillar in the square's centre, is built on the site of a sacred natural spring. Nearby, at the sanctuary's entrance, an enclosure houses a segment of the Berlin Wall, brought to Fátima in 1994 to symbolise the connection between the visions and the fall of Communism. Across from the sanctuary lies the Paul VI Pastoral Centre, a large circular building dedicated to the study and contemplation of the message of Fátima.

Adjacent to the sanctuary is the Sacred Way, tracing the route the young shepherds would have taken from their homes in Aljustrel. Along this path, 15 small chapels and shrines mark points of particular interest, including the Well of Arneiro, once in Lucia's garden and the site of a second apparition. The Valinhos monument commemorates the fourth manifestation of Our Lady.

The homes of the shepherd children have been preserved over time and now are museums open to the public. In the village of Aljustrel a short distance from the Sanctuary is the home of Jacinta and Francisco Marto.
Daily: 09h30 - 17h00.
42 Rua de Aljustrel, Fátima, 2495-301, Portugal.
39º 36' 58.7" N | 08º 39' 48.8" W
+351 249 521 777

Two minutes away is the family home of Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos who lived her adult life as a nun. On February 13, 2017, Sister Lúcia was accorded the title Servant of God, as the first major step toward her canonisation.
Daily: 09h30 - 17h00.
86 Rus dos Pastorinhos, Fátima, 2495-301, Portugal.
39º 36' 56.7" N | 08º 39' 53.7" W
+351 249 781 638

Visitors in the Fátima region who are intrigued by natural history often make a beeline for the Pegadas dos Dinossáurios, situated just outside the village of Bairro in the Serra de Aire hills, approximately ten kilometres (6mi) south of Fátima. In 1994, palaeontologists made a remarkable discovery here: the oldest and largest collection of preserved Sauropod tracks ever found. These footprints, believed to be 175 million years old, offer a fascinating glimpse into the distant past when giant herbivorous dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Located within an abandoned quarry floor, the Pegadas dos Dinossáurios site spans a 150-metre area and showcases hundreds of well-preserved Sauropod tracks. These impressions, etched into ancient limestone, provide valuable insights into the behaviour and size of these ancient creatures. Experts estimate that the Sauropods responsible for these tracks were up to thirty metres in length, based on the spacing between footprints.

Within the park, visitors can marvel at full-size Sauropod statues and explore information boards that offer detailed explanations about this extraordinary discovery.

Tuesday - Sunday 10h00 – 12h30/14h00 – 18h00
€3.00

Estrada de Fátima, Ourém, 2490-216, Portugal.
39º 34' 20.5" N | 08º 35' 40.3" W
+351 249 530 160
dinossaurios@hotmail.com |  Website

For those seeking earthly wonders near Fátima, the Mira de Aire Caves offer a captivating underground adventure. Located just over thirteen kilometres (8 mi) south of Fátima, these caverns form the largest network of subterranean caves in Portugal. Extending nearly eleven kilometres (7 mi) into the hills of the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros, the Mira de Aire Caves are celebrated as one of the seven natural wonders of Portugal.

Descending 683 steps over several levels, visitors are treated to a mesmerising display of geological formations illuminated by multi-coloured lights. Stalactites, stalagmites, and other remarkable features captivate the imagination as knowledgeable guides lead guests through the caverns, offering insights into the natural processes that created these wonders. Highlights of the tour include an underground lake and a majestic waterfall.

Discovered by local residents in 1947, the caves were opened to the public in 1974. Above ground, visitors can enjoy a small water park with swimming pools and a bar, providing entertainment for both adults and children alike.
High Season: Daily 09h30 – 19h00, Low Season: Daily 09h30 – 17h30
Adult: €6.60, Child <12 Yrs: €3.90

470 Av. Dr. Luciano Justo Ramos, Mira de Aire, 2485-001, Portugal. | 39º 32' 39.3" N | 08º 42' 57.6" W
+351 244 440 322 | grutasmiradaire.com |  Website