Sanctuary of Fatima

Catholic Marian Shrine At The Site Of The 1917 Apparitions Reported By Three Shepherd Children; One Of The Most Visited Pilgrimage Sites In The World · Fatima, Santarem

The Sanctuary of Fatima, at the Cova da Iria on a limestone plateau about 130 km north of Lisbon, is one of the great Catholic Marian shrines of the world. Between May and October 1917 three shepherd children - Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto - reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary here, and on 13 October 1917 a large crowd reported the event believers call the Miracle of the Sun. The Church later recognised the apparitions as worthy of belief; Francisco and Jacinta, who died young in the flu epidemic, were canonised in 2017. Pilgrims come to pray at the small Chapel of the Apparitions, walk the huge esplanade, some of them on their knees, visit the tombs of the three children in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and join the candlelight procession at night. Visitors who do not share the faith come for the scale and the devotion itself. Entry to the sanctuary is free. The honest caveat: the town around it is a plain modern sprawl of hotels and souvenir shops, and on the 12-13 May and 12-13 October pilgrimages the crowds are enormous.

Santuario de Fatima, Cova da Iria, Fatima, Ourem municipality, about 130 km north of Lisbon, Fatima, Santarem, Portugal

The sanctuary grounds and the esplanade are open to all, day and night, and entry is free; the Chapel of the Apparitions is open from early morning until late evening, and the basilicas roughly from morning until evening, with Mass, the rosary and the evening procession set by the daily programme - confirm the times posted at the sanctuary. Most visitors come by Rede Expressos coach from Lisbon Sete Rios (about 1.5 hours) or by car on the A1; the 'Fatima' railway station is roughly 20 km away and poorly linked. Book rooms months ahead for 12-13 May and 12-13 October.

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