Aljustrel is the small village a short distance from the Sanctuary of Fátima where the three shepherd children of the apparitions — Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto — were born and lived.
The village remains a quiet, rural place, and its great interest lies in the childhood homes of the visionaries, which have been preserved much as they were at the time of the apparitions in 1917. Visitors can see the simple houses, the modest rooms and the everyday objects of a humble shepherding family of the early twentieth century.
Aljustrel gives a different and more intimate side of the Fátima story than the great basilicas: the ordinary, rural world from which the children came. The village lies along the route between the homes and the Cova da Iria, and is often visited on foot by pilgrims, as a quieter and more reflective part of a stay in Fátima.
Highlights
- The village where the three shepherd children lived
- A short distance from the Sanctuary of Fátima
- Family homes preserved much as they were in 1917
- The simple, rural world from which the children came
- A quieter, more intimate side of the Fátima story
History & context
Aljustrel is the village near Fátima where the three shepherd children — Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto — were born and lived at the time of the 1917 apparitions. Their family homes have been preserved much as they were then, with the rooms and everyday objects of a humble shepherding family of the early twentieth century. The village lies along the route between the children's homes and the Cova da Iria.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Spring and autumn for comfortable walking; mornings tend to be quieter at the houses.
⏱️ Duration
1–1.5 hours
♿ Accessibility
Limited. The houses are small historic buildings in a rural village, with steps and uneven surfaces.
Frequently asked questions
What is Aljustrel?
It is the small village near Fátima where the three shepherd children of the 1917 apparitions were born and lived.
What can you see in Aljustrel?
The preserved childhood homes of the visionaries, kept much as they were in 1917, with their rooms and everyday objects.
How far is Aljustrel from the sanctuary?
It lies a short distance from the Cova da Iria, and is often visited on foot as part of a stay in Fátima.