Fátima

Discover the enchanting origins of Fátima, Portugal, rooted in the tale of a Moorish princess named Fátima and a Christian knight named Gonçalo Hermigues. Legend has it that Fátima, kidnapped by Hermigues, eventually embraced Christianity and married her captor, adopting the name Oureana. For centuries, Fátima remained a quaint village nestled in the Serra de Aire hills until the 13th of May, 1917, when three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—experienced extraordinary visions of the Virgin Mary in the nearby Cova da Iria.

These mystical encounters, occurring on the 13th day of each subsequent month, revealed prophecies encompassing pivotal world events like World War II, the fall of Communism, and an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. To validate their experiences amid scepticism, the children beseeched the "Virgin of the Rosary" for a sign, resulting in the awe-inspiring "Miracle of the Sun." Witnessed by 70,000 people, this phenomenon saw the sun seemingly dance in the sky, emitting vibrant rays of light despite the pouring rain.

Today, Fátima stands as a pilgrimage site of profound spiritual significance, attracting visitors from around the globe, seeking solace, miracles, and a deeper connection to faith and history.

Since the extraordinary events of the 13th of October, 1917, the prophecies bestowed upon the shepherd children of Fátima have been subject to intense scrutiny and debate. While devout believers view these occurrences as divine intervention—bolstered by the Vatican's official recognition in 1930—others offer explanations grounded in natural atmospheric phenomena.

Today, curiosity persists regarding the three secrets disclosed to the children, aged seven, nine, and ten at the time. The first two revelations, involving a vivid depiction of "Hell" and a dire warning of impending wars, are widely known. However, the contents of the third prophecy, shared in writing with the Vatican by Lúcia in 1941, remain shrouded in mystery. Entrusted with a solemn vow of confidentiality until 1960, this revelation has yet to be disclosed by any Pope.

Lúcia, who entered a convent in 1928, outlived her cousins Francisco and Jacinta, who tragically fell victim to the Spanish flu pandemic. Despite her passing in 2005, Lúcia's devout legacy endures, with expectations that she will eventually be honoured with beatification, joining her cherished cousins in sainthood. As speculation persists, Fatima continues to captivate visitors with its profound spiritual significance and intriguing historical mysteries.

Constructed over time in the vicinity of Cova da Iria, where three children witnessed the Marian apparitions, the Sanctuary of Fátima stands as a testament to faith and devotion. Comprising various buildings, shrines, and monuments, it embodies the religious, political, and social significance of the event. Spread across panoramic landscapes, the sanctuary is anchored by the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. At its heart lies the Chapel of the Apparitions, a humble structure marking the sacred ground where pilgrims first honoured the apparitions. This revered site, now known as Our Lady of Fátima Sanctuary, attracts visitors worldwide, seeking spiritual solace and historical insight into the transformative events that unfolded here.

CHAPEL OF THE APPARATIONS

During the apparition of October 13, Lucia de Jesus, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto were requested by "Our Lady of the Rosary" to build a chapel in her honour. The construction started in 1919 on the very same spot as five of the six occurrences. On 6 March 1922, anti-catholic adversaries planted a bomb within the unfinished shrine and caused considerable damage precipitating the second stage of construction. It re-opened on January 13, 1923. Today the Chapel of the Apparitions is housed inside a glass enclosure opened on one side and was inaugurated during the first visit of John Paul II in 1982. Inside there's a sculpture of Our Lady which marks the site where an oak tree from where the Lady of the Rosary is said to have stood. The work of José Ferreira Thedim, a sculpture carved from Brazilian cedarwood and measures just over a metre tall. It was solemnly crowned on the 13th of May 1946 by Cardinal Aloisi Masella, a pontifical legate. The crown is made of solid gold weighing 1.2 KG and contains 313 pearls and 2679 precious stones. The crown also contains a bullet removed from John Paul II following his assassination attempt in 1981. The statuette only wears her crown on special occasions.

THE BASILICA

At the heart of the sprawling 150,000 square meters (37 acres) plaza within the Sanctuary stands the magnificent neo-classical limestone basilica. Its soaring bell tower, stretching 65 metres (213 ft) skyward, is crowned with a 7KG bronze crown, while a towering white marble statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, standing at 4.73 metres tall, adorns its façade. Housing a carillon of 62 bells, including a colossal bell weighing 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb), and a clapper of about 90 kilograms (200 lb), the tower commands attention. Two expansive colonnades extend from the tower, linking it to the sprawling conventual and hospital buildings. Construction commenced on the 13th of May, 1928, culminating in the Basilica's consecration in October 1953. Adorned with 15 altars dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the Rosary, and featuring a poignant painting above the high altar depicting Our Lady conveying her messages to the children, the Basilica also 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 Holmoak is a replacement of the tree where the three Shepard children awaited the operations of Mary. The original was severely damaged by over-enthusiastic relic hunters. Its original location lies within the Chapel of the Apparitions. Standing upon a pillar in the centre of the square, is the Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was constructed on the location of a natural spring, its waters were also considered sacred. At the entrance to the sanctuary, there's an enclosure containing a segment of the Berlin Wall brought to Fátima in 1994 to mark the connection between the visions and the fall of Communism. The large circular building opposite the sanctuary is the Paul VI Pastoral Centre, a complex dedicated to the study and contemplation of the message of Fátima and the issues which dominate the modern world.

Close by is the Sacred Way which marks the route the young shepherds would have taken from their homes in Aljustrel to the site in Fátima. Along the way 15 small chapels and shrines are marking the points of particular interest such as the The Well of Arneiro which was once in the garden of Lucia's house, where a second apparition occurred and the Valinhos monument where the fourth manifestation of Our Lady appeared.

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

Not all the interesting things in the Fátima area are associated with the heavens. For those who seek pleasures of the underworld, the largest network of subterranean caverns in Portugal are found in Mira de Aire only over eight miles (13.5km) south of Fátima. The caves themselves extend almost seven miles (11km) into the hills of the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros, 600 metres of which are open to the public. The Mira de Aire Caves are considered one of the seven natural wonders of Portugal. Over several levels, the visitor descends 683 steps into the depths where multi-coloured lights illuminate the amazing array of stalactites, stalagmites and other geological features to great effect. Visits to the caves are organised in groups that are skilfully guided for 45 minutes through the site stopping along the way for explanations of how nature has formed such wonders. Highlights of the tour include an underground lake and a waterfall. The Mira de Aire caves were stumbled upon by local residents in 1947 however they didn't open to the public until 1974. Above ground, there's a small waterpark with swimming pools and a bar for adults and water slides to keep the young ones amused.
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

Non-creationists in the Fátima area head straight to the Pegadas dos Dinossáurios just outside the village of Bairro in the Serra de Aire hills six miles (10km) south of Fátima. It was here, in 1994, palaeontologists were astonished to discover the oldest and largest collection of preserved Sauropod tracks found anywhere in the world. The footprints of these giant herbivores are believed to be 175 million years old, first trodden in an ancient shallow lagoon since petrified into limestone. Hundreds of giant tracks (pegadas) are easy to see cast along a 150-metre area within a disused quarry floor. Judging by the spacing between the footprints experts believe these sauropods were up to thirty metres in length.
In the park there are full size Sauropod statues and information boards which explain in further detail about the site. 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