Fátima today is the ‘Altar of the World’ where millions of pilgrims come to find spiritual comfort. The history of this small village located 88 miles north of Lisbon, will always be associated with three children: Lúcia Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto.

On 13 May 1917, at Cova da Iria, a few kilometres from Fátima, they saw a light, where the Capela das Aparições is now situated. The Virgin asked them to pray for the good of the world and announced that she would return during the following months, every 13th day of the month. The last apparition occurred in the month of October, and around 70,000 pilgrims witnessed the Miracle of the Sun. A Basilica was built, in the neo-Baroque style, which receives more than 7 million visitors every year, making it one of the most important religious travel destinations in the world.

The Capelinha das Aparições, symbol of the Sanctuary, was the first place of worship to be built. Still in the vicinity of the Sanctuary you can contemplate the large holm oak, the monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in the centre of the square and the Cruz Alta at the south end of the sanctuary area.

In addition to the Sanctuary, you can visit the Paul VI Pastoral Centre, the houses of the visionaries, the parish church of Fatima (where the children where baptised), the monument to Our Lady in Valinhos (the site of Our Lady´s 4th apparition, on 19 August 1917), the Loca do Anjo (where the children witnessed an apparition from the Angel of Peace) and the Via Sacra of Calvary.
For more information please visit our friends – www.santuario-fatima.pt.