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    Fátima

    Portugal

    Fátima

    CityCulture

    Fátima is one of the world's largest Catholic pilgrimage sites. In 1917, three shepherd children reportedly had multiple apparitions of the Virgin Mary here.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Portugal
    7. Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)
    9. Fátima
    Fátima is one of the world's largest Catholic pilgrimage sites. In 1917, three shepherd children reportedly had multiple apparitions of the Virgin Mary here. Today, a huge square surrounds the small Chapel of the Apparitions, with two basilicas at its ends. The town thrives almost entirely on pilgrims; hotels and devotional shops line up around the sanctuary.

    Sights in Fátima

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Chapel of the Apparitions

    1Chapel of the Apparitions

    Small Apparition Chapel at the edge of the large square, at the spot where the shepherd children supposedly had Marian apparitions in 1917. Devotions take place here several times daily; in the evenings, the candlelight procession begins.
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    Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary
    Church

    2Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary

    Neoclassical basilica with a tall tower tops the large esplanade. It houses the tombs of the three child seers, Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta.
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    Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity
    Church

    3Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity

    Modern church from 2007 at the other end of the forecourt with around 8,600 seats. Masses are held here during large pilgrimages.
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    Aljustrel
    Attraction

    4Aljustrel

    Hamlet south of the Sanctuary with the simple homes of the three seer children, which can be visited. A Way of the Cross leads here from the Sanctuary via Valinhos.
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    Dining & Drinks

    1

    'Manhãs' Restaurant

    Restaurant in Av. de Dom José Alves Correia da Silva 114B.
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    2

    O Leque

    Restaurant in R. Francisco Marto 148.
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    3

    A Cabaça

    Restaurant in R. Francisco Marto 115 cave.
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    4

    Combo Caffé

    Bar in R. João Paulo II 87.
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    5

    'Timtim' Restaurant

    Restaurant in Av. Beato Nuno 117 119.
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    Pregaria da Iria

    Bar in R. de São João de Deus 11.
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    Culture and History

    From May to October 1917, Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto reported Marian apparitions in Cova da Iria. At the final apparition on October 13, tens of thousands reportedly observed the so-called Miracle of the Sun. The Catholic Church recognized the apparitions in 1930, and Francisco and Jacinta were canonized in 2017.

    Traveling in Fátima

    Regular buses depart from Lisbon; the journey takes about an hour and a half, and the bus station is close to the Sanctuary. Caxarias train station is quite a way out. You can reach the Sanctuary and Aljustrel on foot.

    Accommodations in Fátima

    Find perfect stay in Fátima

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    Campgrounds in Fátima

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      • 1Chapel of the Apparitions3 days
      • 2Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary4 days
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    Nearby

    Tomar

    Tomar

    Tomar, on the River Nabão, was the seat of the Knights Templar in Portugal during the Middle Ages. Above the town stands their fortified monastery, the Convento de Cristo, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. Later, the Order of Christ, led by Henry the Navigator, was based here. The old town below is laid out in a grid pattern, featuring Praça da República, one of Portugal's oldest synagogues, and a park on a river island.
    Castelo de Almourol

    Castelo de Almourol

    The Castelo de Almourol stands on a small rocky island in the middle of the Tejo River between Tancos and Vila Nova da Barquinha. The Templars rebuilt the castle in 1171 under Gualdim Pais on older foundations; it secured the former border line on the Tejo. Today, it is one of the most famous photo motifs of the Ribatejo.
    Nazaré

    Nazaré

    Nazaré is a fishing and beach town on the Costa de Prata, around 120 km north of Lisbon. The lower town is on the long sandy beach; atop the cliff sits Sítio, with a pilgrimage church and viewpoint. Nazaré is world-famous for its huge waves, breaking at Praia do Norte in winter and attracting big-wave surfers worldwide.
    Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)

    Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)

    The Costa de Prata, the Silver Coast, is the coastal stretch between Lisbon and Coimbra, encompassing the districts of Leiria and the western area around Caldas da Rainha. Here lie the walled town of Óbidos, the monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, the fishing and surfing town of Nazaré, the Peniche peninsula, and the pilgrimage site of Fátima in the hinterland.
    Ribatejo

    Ribatejo

    The Ribatejo is the region on both sides of the middle Tejo northeast of Lisbon. It is flat, fertile alluvial land with viticulture, rice fields, and pastures where horses and fighting bulls are bred. Key towns are Santarém with its Gothic churches and Tomar with the Templar castle Convento de Cristo, plus the river castle of Almourol.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI