The Sanctuary of Fátima is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, and the reason the town of Fátima exists as it is today. It stands at the Cova da Iria, in central Portugal, in the municipality of Ourém.
The sanctuary marks the place where, in 1917, three shepherd children — Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto — reported a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The events drew growing devotion, and over the following century the site grew into a vast complex that today receives millions of pilgrims each year.
The sanctuary is built around a great open prayer area, large enough for enormous gatherings. Around it stand the Chapel of the Apparitions, the two basilicas, and a range of buildings for pilgrims. A marble pathway crosses the square, along which some pilgrims advance on their knees in prayer. Whether approached as a believer or a visitor, the sanctuary is a place of remarkable scale and solemnity.
Destacados
- One of the world's great Marian pilgrimage shrines
- Built where the 1917 apparitions were reported
- A vast open prayer area for huge gatherings
- Home to the Chapel of the Apparitions and two basilicas
- Visited by millions of pilgrims each year
History & context
The Sanctuary of Fátima grew from the events of 1917, when three shepherd children — Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto — reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the Cova da Iria. The Catholic Church recognised the apparitions as worthy of belief in 1930. The first national pilgrimage took place in 1927, and the sanctuary expanded over the following century into a vast complex. It is today one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world, receiving millions of pilgrims each year.
🗓️ Mejor época para visitar
Outside the great monthly pilgrimages for a quieter visit; the 12th–13th of May to October for the main pilgrimages.
⏱️ Duración
Half a day
♿ Accesibilidad
Good. The main prayer area and the principal buildings are largely level and step-free.
Preguntas frecuentes
Why is Fátima important?
It is the site where, in 1917, three shepherd children reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary; it is now a major pilgrimage shrine.
Can anyone visit the Sanctuary of Fátima?
Yes. The sanctuary is open to all, pilgrims and visitors alike, and the prayer area is freely accessible.
When is the sanctuary busiest?
The great pilgrimages fall around the 13th of each month from May to October, the anniversaries of the apparitions.