Curator’s statement
Fatima is not just about seeing a place. It’s about connecting to holy history and witnessing a deep divine encounter when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared. In 1917, she appeared to three shepherd children bringing a message of peace, repentance, and prayer. These events transformed a quiet rural town into one of the most important Marian shrines in the world.
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Things to do in Portugal
The resting place of Francisco Marto, one of the visionary children
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima (Santuario de Fatima) is the main place where people go to pray. It has the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of the Apparitions (where the Virgin Mary appeared), and the main square. The Basilica houses the burial sites of the Visionary Children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta.
Chapel of the Apparitions (Capelinha das Aparicoes) and the Apparition Oak: Built on the exact site where the Virgin Mary appeared to the children on the 13th of each month from May to October of 1917.
Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity: A striking modern Basilica completed in 2007 to accommodate the growing number of Pilgrims.
Via Sacra: A peaceful outdoor Way of the Cross with 14 stations that meander through olive groves and end at the Chapel of St. Stephen.
Homes of the Visionary Children- Located just a few kilometers from the sanctuary, they offer insight into the humble lives and the rural setting in which the apparitions occurred.
The Museum of the Sanctuary of Fatima (Museu do Santuario de Fatima) offers a powerful glimpse into the global devotion tied to the Marian apparitions of 1917. It also houses the actual bullet that was used in an assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square in 1981. In 1984, as a gesture of deep gratitude, the pope gifted the bullet to the sanctuary, which now rests in the crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The Pope credited Our Lady of Fatima with saving his life, noting that the attack occurred on the anniversary of the first apparition.
Places to eat & drink in Portugal
Charming Obidos
Fatima is more popular with tourists near the Sanctuary. I suggest visiting it in one day from one of the hotels in Sintra or Lisbon. Because we were blessed to have Carlos from The Penha Longa Resort hosting us, we planned a stop at the Medieval Village of Obidos near the coast. Obidos is one of the most picturesque and charming towns on the coast. I would recommend trying to stop in at Jaimon! Jaimon!, or A Janela for an authentic experience.
Need to know
We were based at the Penha Longa Resort (a Ritz-Carlton property), occupying a restored 14th-century monastery nestled within Portugal’s Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. We took day trips from the resort with our local guide, Carlos, which was the perfect blend of luxury and exploration. Fatima is just 90 minutes by car from Sintra, making it an accessible pilgrimage without the need for extensive travel. When we came back, we were always sure to have a great meal in one of Penha Longa’s seven restaurants (including two Michelin-starred restaurants). We also got to experience culture and have modern, stylish amenities.
Travel Advisor
Angela Weil
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