Chapel of Apparitions
The Recint
Perpetual Adoration Chapel
House of Our Lady DoloursThe Convent of Christ is a former Catholic convent in Tomar, Portugal. Originally a 12th-century Templar stronghold, when the order was dissolved in the 14th century the Portuguese branch was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ.
Portugal: Santarém – Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima
It was an early rise today as we had a lot on our schedule.
The first stop we had planned was the town of Fátima, which was only about 15 minutes away from Tomar.
We were on our way to see the fabled shrine of Fátima, which before 1917 was a sleepy backwater. Then three young shepherd children, Lúcia dos Santos, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, aged 12, 9 and 7, witnessed several apparitions of angels and the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Rosary). The first apparition happened on 13th May 1917. At first, the children did not know the identity of the Lady who asked the three little shepherds to go to Cova da Iria on the 13th day of each month, at the same time for 6 months. She promised to reveal her identity and the purpose of her presence.
During the apparitions, this lady foretold some revelations like the end of the First World War and that Francisco and Jacinta would soon go to heaven (Francisco sadly passed away in 1919 and Jacinta in 1920, victims of the Spanish flu). Lucia became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005 aged 97.
As months went by, more and more people would appear to witness the apparitions. By the time of the second apparition, about 50 people were present but on the 13th of October, during the sixth apparition, there were 50,000 people present to witness the miracle promised by this lady. It was then that the three little shepherds knew that this lady was Our Lady of the Rosary.
A provincial administrator briefly took the children into custody, believing the prophecies were politically motivated in opposition to the officially secular First Portuguese Republic. The church itself was very suspicious of a tale coming from three young children, so it was not until 1930 that the phenomenon was acknowledged by the Bishop of Leiria.
Soon after the word of the apparitions got out hordes of pilgrims started descending on Fátima in greater and greater numbers, resulting in Fátima being given town status, in 1977, and city status in 1997. The popularity of Fátima was further enhanced during the papacy of John Paul II, a confessed devotee of Our Lady of Fátima, who travelled there in 1982 to give thanks for having survived an assassination attempt the year before. In 2000, on his third visit to the site, he announced the beatification of Jacinta and Francisco, to whom the Vatican attributed the miracle of a cure. Nowadays it is estimated that the sanctuary welcomes 4 to 5 million pilgrims every year.
We had come to the shrine out of curiosity, ahead of our Camino which we’d be starting in a few days. Luckily, arriving early meant we got a great parking spot close to the shrine.
The first building we happened upon was a modern, and in truth ugly, bunker-like structure, which turned out to be the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. The construction of this basilica in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima began in 2004 and ended three years later. It has a seating capacity of 8633 making it the fourth biggest catholic church in the world. It would have been impressive to see it full – but I was glad that it was more or less empty during our visit.
The basilica is located at the southwest end of the sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, facing the processions area. This area is a massive expanse of concrete that stretches half and kilometre towards the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary at the other end of the sanctuary. On the 13th of May and October each year about one million people visit Fátima to celebrate the dates of the first and last apparitions and this plaza is packed.
It was getting hot already, but we decided to head towards the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary before it got too toasty.
Along the way we passed by a smaller chapel called the Chapel of the Apparitions, where there was a mass taking place. This small chapel was built in 1919 on the exact spot where the tree was rooted (the oak tree disappeared soon after the apparitions due to pilgrims that cut its branches to keep a part of this “relic”), next to which the Virgin Mary appeared to the three little shepherds.
Although it was destroyed by strangers in 1922, the small chapel was rebuilt some months later. In 1982, a big roof was added to the small chapel to protect the pilgrims from the hot days and rainy days.
In the centre of the chapel is the original statue of the Virgin Mary (1920). In its crown, is the bullet that hit Pope John Paul II during the assassination attempt in Rome on the 13th of May 1981.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary is a very beautiful building. Construction began in 1928 in a neo-classical style, and it was consecrated in October 1953.
The splendid façade consists of a sweeping colonnade with a flight of steps that lead to the main portico. A 65m-tall bell and clock tower dominates the building with a glorious crown of bronze weighing 7,000kg topped by a cross that is illuminated at night. At the niche of the spire overlooking the square is the statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary standing at 4.73m high and weighing 14 tons.
In a quiet corner of the Basilica are the tombs of Jacinta, Lucia and Francisco. People respectfully line up to pay their respects at the tombs.
Planning your visit to Fátima
|
|  Basilica |
|
 The Big Holmoak |  Monument Sacred Heart of Jesus |
|  Rectory |
 House of Our Lady of Carmel |  Berlin Wall |  Via Sacre |  High Cross |
 Monument to Pope Paul VI |  Monument to Pope Pius XII |  Paul VI Pastoral Center |  Valinhos |
 Loco do Anjo |  The Homes of the Little Shepherds |  Ethnographic Museum |
Getting to Fátima
Car
From Lisbon
Follow the A1 North direction; exit at Fatima – exit 8
From Oporto
Follow the A1 South direction; exit at Fatima – exit 8
Train
There is no train station near the Sanctuary of Fatima, hence making this route even more expensive and time-consuming. However, there are a few options for those who wish to take this type of transportation.
Bus
Exit at the Fatima Bus Station.
Fatima’s Bus Terminal is only 1300 feet (400 m) away from the Sanctuary.
GPS
39°37’53.01″N
8°40’49.20″W
The best time to visit Fátima, Santarem District
Santarem, Portugal, finds itself classified under the Mediterranean hot summer climate, precisely the Csa classification, according to the Köppen climate classification. Its geographical position between the Atlantic ocean and the Iberian interior contributes to a distinct set of climatological parameters, spanning a cyclical pattern of variations from month to month.
The best time to visit Fátima
Certainly, the prime time to visit Santarem is from June to August. During these summer months, the weather is at its warmest — high temperatures range from 26.8°C (80.2°F) to 31°C (87.8°F), significantly suited for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Furthermore, the relative humidity drops to its yearly low, which, combined with plenty of sunshine — an average of 11 hours per day — and minimal rainfall, offers a satisfyingly warm and sunny travel experience.
In terms of daylight, July offers the most with approximately 14.6 hours, providing ample time for visitors to explore the city’s attractions. The UV index is relatively higher, however, so it’s advisable to be prepared with appropriate sun protection.
The worst time to visit Fátima
Based on the climatological parameters, the less desirable time for a visit to Santarem would be during the winter, particularly from November to January. The temperatures are at their lowest, ranging between 7.5°C (45.5°F) and 15.1°C (59.2°F). Moreover, the area experiences increased rainfall — peaking at 53mm (2.09″) in November — and a fewer number of sunny days.
The relative humidity and cloud percentage are relatively high, potentially leading to more overcast days. The sharp drop in the number of daylight hours, especially in December with just 9.5 hours, narrows the window for outdoor activities.
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