Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pacity of the older basilica. The striking architecture and decoration is intentionally mul-
tinational—the architect was Greek; the large orange iron crucifix in front is German;
the dazzling mosaic mural inside (on the left, depicting Mary with the three children she
visited and all the people who witnessed her in the last apparition in October 1917) is
Slovenian; and the crucifix at the altar (with the strikingly different Jesus) is Irish. The
church is circular, symbolizing the world. Each of its 12 doors is named for an apostle.
Outside, statues of two popes kneel facing the esplanade (Paul VI, who was here on the
50th anniversary in 1967, and John Paul II, who had a special place for Fátima in his heart
and visited three times). The long, smooth approach for pilgrims making their way to the
Chapel of Apparitions on their knees starts here, with a pilgrims' prayer posted.
Cost and Hours: Free, daily 9:00-19:00, services Sat at 11:00 and Sun at 15:00 and
16:30, www.santuario-fatima.pt .
Chapel ofApparitions —This marks the spot where Mary appeared to the three children
(located outside the church, next to the big old oak tree, beneath a canopy). Services take
place daily 6:30-21:30 in a variety of languages; check the posted schedule for English.
Pilgrimage —On the 13th of each month from May through October, and on August
19, up to 100,000 pilgrims come to Fátima. Some shuffle on their knees, traversing the
mega-huge, park-lined esplanade (which is more than 160,000 square feet) leading to the
church. Torch-lit processions occur on two nights (usually the 12th and 13th). In 1967, on
the 50th anniversary of the miracle, 1.5 million pilgrims—including the pope—gathered
here.
Museums —Unfortunately the Catholic Church hasn't yet put together an exhibition be-
fitting this beautiful sight. Instead, two tacky and overpriced for-profit “museums” com-
pete for your euros—each within a couple of blocks of the esplanade in the modern town.
The Museu de Cera de Fátima is a series of rooms filled with wax figures that tell
the story of Fátima's visitation one scene at a time. Its €7.50 tickets—the proceeds from
which don't go to a good cause—make it the worst sightseeing value in Portugal (daily
April-Oct 9:30-18:30, Nov-March 10:00-17:00, English leaflet describes each vignette).
The Museu 1917 Aparições, telling the same story with a 15-minute-long low-tech
sound-and-light show, is a better value and experience (€3.50, daily April-Oct 9:00-19:00,
Nov-March 9:00-18:00, in shopping complex behind enormous Hotel de Fátima, worth-
less without English soundtrack—ask at the ticket window). Both exhibits are pretty
cheesy for those not inclined to take Fátima too seriously.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search