The Sanctuary of Fátima is, par excellence, a place of Christian pilgrimage and Catholic devotion, preserving the memory of the events that led to its foundation, namely the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima to the three little shepherds—Lúcia dos Santos, Francisco, and Jacinta Marto—in 1917.
Its magnitude and relevance from a religious point of view have been widely recognised nationally and internationally. By the express will of the Holy See, this is a National Shrine.
It is also one of the most important Marian shrines in the world, belonging to the Catholic Church and the largest international destination for religious tourism, receiving around six million visitors a year.
On this tour, we will visit the village of Valinhos in Aljustrel, where the three little shepherds lived. Upon arrival at the shrine, you will have 1.5 hours to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary at your leisure. The building, which stands out for its 65-meter-high tower, is the resting place of the remains of the three little shepherds. Next, we will visit the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, the most recent addition to the shrine, and the Chapel of the Apparitions, where, with a little luck, you will have the opportunity to attend a mass.
After visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, and the Chapel of the Apparitions, the three most important iconic monuments in Fátima, we will return to Coimbra.