North Portugal Tourism Guide - Fatima

The Miracle of Fatima

The popularity of Fatima stems from a 20th century miracle in which 3 secrets were portrayed to three children who have become known as the children of Fatima. On 13 May 1917 three shepherd's children from Fatima, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, claim to have seen an apparition of the Virgin. Only 10 year old Lucia could hear what she said and her request was that they should return on the 13th of each month for the next six months. The word spread and by 13 October that year 70,000 devotees had gathered. The Miracle of Sun is what the following events became known. The sun whirled like a wheel of fire, followed by the miraculous cure of the disabilities and illnesses suffered by some of the spectators.

The Virgin again appeared to Lucia in 1925, 1926 and 1929 with messages relating to World War I and the need for prayer to bring peace. The third message Lucia was given remained a secret and was only known by successive popes until the year 2000 when during an emotional ceremony in which Pope John Paul II beatified Jacinta and Francisco (who both died in childhood), he revealed the third message. It had been a prophetic vision written down by Lucia that predicted an attempt on the Pope's life in 1981. At the time of the attempt the Pope had mysteriously commented that Our Lady of Fatima had saved his life and after he recovered he had the bullet welded into the crown of the Virgin's statue in Fatima.

Fatima Sanctuary and Shrine

The Fatima Miracle and Apparitions really put Fatima on the map as it has become a focal point for Catholic pilgrimage with four million pilgrims journeying to Fatima every year. The Sanctuary Complex includes the Basilica, a prayer area, the Chapel of Apparitions, the Our Lady of Suffering Retreat, the Our Lady of Rest Retreat, the Our Lady of Carmel Retreat and the Paul VI Pastoral Centre. The shrine is visited by a constant stream of devotees paying tribute bringing with them an almost tangible atmosphere of belief. It is at its most dramatic during the key dates in the calendar: 12-13 May and 12-13 October when millions of pilgrims arrive in Fatima to commemorate the first apparitions.

The shrine is built on the location where the apparitions occurred at Cova da Iria just east of the A1 motorway. What were fields is now dominated by a one kilometre long esplanade dominated by the impressive white basilica. It was built in 1953 and is reminiscent of St Peter's in Rome. The esplanade is twice the size of St Peter's and pilgrims have even been known to cross it on their knees in penance for their prayers to cure a loved one. The Chapel of the Apparitions, Capela das Aparicoes, marks the actual sport where the apparitions occurred. This is obviously a main focal point for devotees who offer flowers and light candles. There is a fire by the chapel in which people can throw offerings on the fire. Any usable offerings left at the end of the day are collected by chapel workers who use the profits for charity.

Inside the basilica the white purity of the shrine is echoed. There are fifteen altars dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the rosary. The tombs of Francisco and Jacinta who died in the flu epidemic at the ages of 11 and 10 are a focal point within the basilica. Lucia entered a Carmelite convent in Coimbra and remained there for the rest of her life. Sadly she passed away in 2005 at the grand age of 97. Throughout her life her story was challenged by sceptics and criticism of the church ensued when it became clear she had been put under an imposition of silence and was not allowed to see anyone but close relatives. The imposition of silence was in place until her death with only the Pope able to permit her to break the silence. She continued to write private letters and diaries throughout her life. Controversially Lucia of Fatima was permitted to receive a visit from the director of "The Passion of Christ", Mel Gibson, during lent of 2004. He is reported as having visited Lucia in the convent in Coimbra where she spent most of her life after which controversial speculation ensued over whether the film was going to viewed by the nuns in the convent. (Check the link right). A film of the miracle, "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima" was made in 1952.

At the entrance to the Sanctuary to the south of the rectory is a piece of the Berlin Wall donated by a Portuguese resident of Germany as a tribute to God's part in the fall of communism as predicted at Fatima.

Fatima Town

The town's history does get somewhat overshadowed by the Fatima Apparitions, but it does date back to Moorish occupation. The green-towered castle was originally Moorish but was conquered in 1148 by Dom Afonso Henriques but wasn't rebuilt until 1450. It now houses exhibitions and is free to enter. Open May-Sep Tue-Sun 10 am 12.30 pm and 2-6 pm. Oct-Apr open til 5 pm. This is not to be confused with Ourem Castle which sometimes gets called Fatima Castle. This is an impressive 13th century castle within walled ramparts high up on the hill above Ourem. The castle, as well as the old part of the town, were partially destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.

There is a town museum, Museu Municipal, that is a pink building underneath the town hall just off Largo Machado dos Santos. It contains an eclectic collection of fossils, dinosaur bones, Neolithic and Palaeolithic artefacts, insects and butterflies, millstones, costumes and spinning wheels something for everyone and it's free! Travessa de Sao Pedro. Tel: 351 244 615. Tue-Sun 10 am-12.30 pm and 2-5 pm.

The Tourist Information Centre is in the public gardens on Avenida D. Jose Alves Correia da Silva, 2495-402 Fatima. Tel: 351 249 531 139. Open May-Sep Tue-Sun 10 am-1 pm and 3-7 pm. You can get free 15 minutes worth of internet.

The more modern part of town and east of the Basilica has all the shops. Enterprising locals offer a multitude of kitsch trinkets and souvenirs including glow-in-the-dark Virgins, keyrings, colourful figurines and Our Lady of Fatima jewellery.

Fatima Accomodation

A spin off of such devotion is that there is plenty of accommodation in Fatima itself. Obviously rooms can become quite scarce during the pilgrimages and main events of the town.

Fatima is a good base from which to visit the other religious wonders of the world, the UNESCO World Heritage sites, at Tomar to the east and Batalha and Alcobaca to the west. Check our pages for more information.

For nature lovers the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park is nearby as are limestone cave attractions and dinosaurs footprints - check the dedicated page, link right.