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| Fatima |
 Fatima
is a town in Portugal famous for the religious visions
that are said to have taken place there in 1917. Fatima
is a town (vila) of approximately 10,000
inhabitants located in the district of Santarém in
central Portugal, 187 km south of Porto and 123 km north
off Lisbon. Fátima is a parish in the municipality of
Ourem. A recent attempt in July 2003 to have the town
declared a concelho was vetoed by President Jorge
Sampaio, causing some controversy. Fatima's centerpiece
is the shrine called the
Sanctuary of Fatima, built to
commemorate the events of 1917 when three peasant
children claimed to have seen the "Virgin of the
Rosary", Our Lady of Fatima. Fatima now attracts hosts
of believers from far and wide, particularly on the
pilgrimage days, and the shrine has been developed on a
correspondingly large scale. The large torch-light
processions in the evening are particularly impressive.
The pilgrims gather in Cova da Ion a huge esplanade in
which is built a little chapel where the Virgin is
believed to have appeared to the children. Around the
esplanade are a considerable number of shops and stalls
selling all kinds of religious articles. On the far side
of the esplanade rises the gigantic basilica, in
neo-classical style, with a central tower 65 meters
high, the construction of which was begun on 13 of May
1928. It is flanked by colonnades linking it with the
extensive conventual and hospital buildings. In the
basilica are the tombs of two of the three seers,
Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, who died in 1919 and
1920 respectively, and were beatified in 1970. The third
seer, Lucia dos Santos, died in 2005.
(from the Wikipedia) |
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Hotels and Pousadas
in Fatima |
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Fatima Pilgrimage Tours |
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 Fatima
Holy Tour - In addition to Fatima this Tour includes
visiting Lisbon and Santarem. - Choose from land or land + air. Starting at $1,625.
Click here for full
information on this tour
Fatima, Spain
and Lourdes Pilgrimage Tour - Visit
Fatima, Avila, Burgos and Lourdes. Starting at $1,999.
Click here for full
information on this tour
Portugal,
Spain, Lourdes and Rome -
Visit
Fatima, Avila, Burgos, Lourdes, Avignon, Nice, Assissi, Cicerone or
Quirnale and Rome. Starting at $3,299.
Click here for full information on
this tour
Post-tour Paris, Nevers and Lisieux
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This is an optional
tour which can be added to the end of the tours above.
Click here for full
information on this tour |
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