Day Trip to Fatima (Dec 10, 2024)

Fátima is known as a Catholic pilgrimage site due to the appearance of Mary in 1917 to three shepherd children, Lucia Dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto.  Although the the two siblings died during the flu epidemic of 1918-1919, Lucia lived and became a Carmelite nun in 1949.  She passed away in 2005 at the age of 97.

Construction of the basilica began in 1928 and was consecrated in 1953, with the compound expanding since then.

As a day trip we took a bus from Tomar to Fátima.  It was roughly ten euros for both of us, round trip.  We saw some interesting countryside and I also had to admire how the driver maneuvered a big bus through the narrow streets of the towns  along the way.

Castle above Ourém (from the bus), on the way to Fátima.

Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity

Here we are on the grounds.  The place is huge.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima.  The cross on top is made of crystal.

Our Lady of Fatima and the Chapel of Appparitions.  The pillar on which the image of Mary stands is the exact place where the apparitions occurred.

Jesus is condemned to death, First Station of the Cross

View inside the sanctuary

Altar

Pipe organ in the sanctuary

All three cousins who saw the apparitions of Mary are buried here.  Francisco and Jacinta are buried here and after her death in 2005, Lucia was transferred here in 2006 in accordance with her wish to be with her cousins.

The tombs of Saints Lucia and Jacinta are on the left.  The area was closed off due to cleaning.

Saint Francisco's tomb (right)

 

Modern Nativity Scene

After touring the Sanctuary, we had a bite to eat and bought a few souvenirs, then headed back to the bus station--it was getting cold!

This was near the tourist information office.

Our bus was not an express (in either direction), so it made several stops before we got back to Tomar.  It took about an hour and ten minutes to go roughly 33 km (20.5 mi).  We ate a quick dinner and that was the end of the day.

The Shrine took all day, so there wasn't much time to explore the city of Fátima.  There were lots of hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops for the tourists/pilgrims, but I'm sure the less visited spots would've been interesting.  Plus, Ourém (see castle photo above) looked like a good place to visit.  Coming back in the dark allowed us to see the Christmas lights, at least.