One of Catholicism’s most important pilgrimage sites, Fatima is a small town and radiates a religious aura that draws devotees from near and far. Its sacred sites have long been associated with apparitions of the Virgin Mary that were reported by shepherd children in 1917.

Things to do

The Capelinha das Aparições is the spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared, with a small chapel built in honour of Our Lady of Fatima after the events were recognised by the Catholic Church. Thousands of pilgrims come to pray here each year, with the neo-Baroque Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário being where the shepherd children were said to have been playing at the time.

In stark contrast is the award-winning modern architecture of the Basílica da Santissima Trindade that was consecrated in 2007 and fuses a minimalistic design with inspiring religious iconography.

Want to experience the apparition with your own eyes? The Museu Interativo "O Milagre de Fátima” uses cutting-edge multimedia displays to help visitors experience the visual and emotional sensations of witnessing this famous apparition.

Aside from its religious landmarks, Fatima provides an excellent base for visiting the 13th-century Ourem Castle that overlooks this nearby medieval town, as well as the Monumento Natural das Pegadas dos Dinossáurios. Follow in the 175 million-year-old footsteps of dinosaurs at this former quarry and hear the story behind their discovery at the interpretation centre.

Getting around

Fatima is connected to Lisbon by regular bus services, with the journey taking around 90 minutes. It’s a short walk from the bus station to the churches and museum, with Ourem a 20-minute bus ride away.