The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima is a Catholic pilgrimage site in Fátima, central Portugal, built around the place where three shepherd children reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917. A wide esplanade is flanked by the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the modern Basilica of the Holy Trinity, with the Chapel of the Apparitions at its centre. The grounds are open around the clock and entry is free. Pilgrims come to pray, light candles and attend Mass. Other visitors come for the architecture and the calm.
What happened in 1917
The sanctuary stands at the Cova da Iria, where on 13 May 1917 three shepherd children, Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, reported seeing a lady brighter than the sun above an oak tree. She asked them to return on the 13th of each following month. In October a crowd of tens of thousands gathered, and many people reported seeing the sun move in the sky, an event known as the Miracle of the Sun.
The first marker on the site was an arch put up in 1917. In 1919 it was replaced by the small chapel known today as the Chapel of the Apparitions. Over the following decades the sanctuary grew into a complex of chapels, basilicas, museums and monuments. It is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leiria-Fátima.
The esplanade and its buildings
The central square is vast. It is roughly twice as large as St Peter's Square in the Vatican and can hold hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during major celebrations. A fountain and a monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus stand in the open space, with a basilica at each end.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, finished in 1953, is a white building with a colonnade that recalls St Peter's. It is the central building of the sanctuary, and the tombs of the three children are inside. Facing it across the esplanade is the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, completed in 2007. It has a circular plan and an interior large enough for thousands of people.
The chapel, the oak and the crown
The Chapel of the Apparitions is the heart of the sanctuary, and people gather here to pray and light candles. Nearby, the Chapel of the Lausperene commemorates the great oak tree linked to the apparitions. Some pilgrims cross the esplanade on their knees as an act of devotion, and they are left to do so in peace.
The statue of Our Lady of Fátima was commissioned in 1919 by a devotee, Gilberto Fernandes dos Santos, so that pilgrims would have an image to venerate. It is carved in Brazilian cedar, is 1.04 metres tall and follows the children's accounts of a lady surrounded by light. Its crown holds the bullet from the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, which he gave to the sanctuary in 1984. Four popes have visited: Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis.
Pilgrimage dates and services
The main celebrations take place on 13 May and 13 October, and pilgrims also gather on the 13th of each month from May to October. Candlelit processions and vigils are part of these evenings, and Mass is held at the sanctuary. Many pilgrims walk to Fátima from other parts of Portugal, and there are five main walking routes.
Around the complex you will find a bookshop and gift shop, drinking water points, restrooms and seating. Information is available in several languages. Cafés, restaurants and bakeries in the town cater to visiting pilgrims, and most accommodation is a short walk from the sanctuary.
Nearby places linked to the story
The homes of the three children are preserved in the village of Aljustrel, just down the road from the sanctuary, and are worth adding to the day. Valinhos, where one of the apparitions took place, can be reached on a contemplative walk. If you have time for non-religious sights, the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça, both World Heritage sites, are in the same region.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee for the Sanctuary of Fátima?
No. Entry to the grounds is free and no ticket is needed. The sanctuary is open 24 hours a day.
How long do you need at the Sanctuary of Fátima?
Plan three to four hours to see the esplanade, the basilicas and the Chapel of the Apparitions. A full day suits you if you also want the museums and a long walk around the grounds.
How do you get to Fátima from Lisbon?
Fátima is about 120 km from Lisbon, a drive of roughly an hour and a half. The train station is around 30 km from the sanctuary, so a taxi is needed from there.
What is there to see at the sanctuary?
The main sights are the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary with the children's tombs, and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. The esplanade also has the Sacred Heart monument, the Chapel of the Lausperene and museums.
When are the biggest pilgrimages?
The largest celebrations are on 13 May and 13 October. Pilgrims also gather on the 13th of each month from May to October, with candlelit processions in the evening.
