FÁTIMA
Fátima is one of the most important religious cities in Portugal, located in the center of the country, in the Santarém region. It became world famous due to the Apparitions of Fátima, which took place in 1917. According to reports, three shepherd children – Lúcia, Jacinta and Francisco Marto – witnessed visions of the Virgin Mary between May and October of that year.
Apparitions of Fatima
The apparitions began on May 13, 1917 and continued on successive dates until October 13 of the same year. During the apparitions, the Virgin Mary would have revealed messages of peace and conversion to the world, warning about the dangers of war and communism. The most striking event was the so-called Miracle of the Sun, which occurred in the last apparition, witnessed by thousands of people, who reported seeing the sun "dance" in the sky.
Sanctuary of Fátima
In response to the apparitions, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima was built, which became one of the largest Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world. The site includes the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity and the Chapel of Apparitions, built on the site where the Virgin appeared for the first time.