Fátima

This world-center of pilgrimage has its origin in the appearance of the Virgin to the 3 little shepherds on the 13th May 1917.

Fátima is a city in Portugal, well known for the famous Marian apparitions that took place in 1917. Having a population of approximately 8000 people, this city is located in the region of Ourém. The city holds a particular religious enchantment which over the years has been discovered by a large number of Christian tourists.

Every year, a large number of pilgrims from all corners of the world fill the roads of Fátima during the dates of May 13 and October 13, where the two apparitions of Lady Mary took place. On these two famous dates, the number of pilgrims can reach up to one million every day.

Fatima Sanctuary

In the heart of the city, the sanctuary is located in the Cova da Iria and is one of the most famous Marian constructions in the world. The building of the basilica began in 1928 and was consecrated in 1953.

- Basilica housing the tombs of Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco

- Chapel of Apparitions

 

Alcobaça

 

Once a great center of medieval culture the town was donated by King D. Afonso Henriques (1st King of Portugal) to the Cistercian Order. The name Alcobaça is a result of the merge of the names of the 2 rivers that cross the town, the Alcoa and the Baça. The Monastery is part of World Unesco Heritage.

Alcobaça is a lovely countryside town that was built up around a Moorish castle and a Christian abbey, the Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça. A net of medieval looking streets and ornamented churches, namely the Misericórdia Church and the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Church, separate the two monuments.

Portugal’s largest church, the Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça, was founded in 1178 by the Cistercian Order to fulfill the

vows of the first Portuguese king, Afonso Henriques, to build these monks a mighty abbey. Later in 1308 King D. Dinis, built

the exquisite main cloister, however, still preserving the simplicity demanded by the Cistercians.

The abbey, which has been declared World Heritage Monument by UNESCO, holds the ornamented tombs of the legendary lovers King D. Pedro and his mistress Inês, who was murdered by the order of his father, the King, in 1355.

Their tragic story says for reasons of state, the heir to the throne was forced to marry a Spanish princess. However D. Pedro had fallen in love with a lady from the Court, Inês de Castro and, even when his wife died, he was prevented from being with her. When the king died, D. Pedro took revenge by having the hearts torn out of two of the killers. He then had Inês’ corpse exhumed, crowned and forced the Court to kneel and kiss her hand.