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 Fátima Accommodation
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Fátima Accommodation - Pousadas
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Fátima Entertainment
Fátima - Restaurants
Fátima - What to Do
Fátima Golf Courses
Campo Real Golf Course
Bom Sucesso Golf Course
Praia Del Rey Golf Course
Royal Obidos Golf Course
West Cliffs Golf Course
Fátima Wines
Estremadura
Introduction to Fátima
This place of religious worship is about 120 Kms. north of Lisbon
and is reputably named after an Arab girl captured by a Christian and
brought back to live in the area. Now a point of pilgrimage for the Roman
Catholic religion due to the vision of the Virgin Mary by three young
children in 1917 whilst tending their flock. Today, on both the 13th of May
and the 13th of October each year, thousands of pilgrims make their way
from all over the world to celebrate these occasions. It was reported that
three messages were given to the eldest, 10 year old Lúcia. Two of
these messages were divulged and proved to be correct. The third has never
been divulged by the Catholic Church and it is said to foretell a
forthcoming disaster. All the children are deceased with Lúcia, who
became a nun, living until she was in 90s. The Basilica that has been
constructed has an apron twice the size of St. Peter’s square in Rome to
provide sufficient space for the gathering of pilgrims. The ceremony of
mid-night mass that takes place yearly on these two days is immensely
moving. The night is filled with thousands of twinkling candles, silent
people breaking into chant at chosen moments, and the electric atmosphere
created by the respectful reference of the multitude. There is close by an
Ethnological Museum devoted to the event. (Visit - Portugal History)
Fátima - Nearby Locations
Visitors to this area are recommended to pay a visit to Ourém, a
medieval town that lies just to the northeast of Fátima. This town
has a 12th Century castle and in the church is the impressive tomb of
Afonso, the grandson of Nuno Alves Pereira, the saviour in
the Battle of “Aljubarrota in 1385 against the invading forces of
Castile. This town is said to be the source of the charming story about
the captured Moorish girl and brought back to convert to Christianity. Her
name was said to have been Fátima Ourena. Directly to the east of
Fátima is the fascinating and historic town of Tomar. This
town was founded in 1159 by the first Grand Master of the all-powerful
Order of the Knights Templar in Portugal, Gualdim Pais. The most
important secret moments of this Order took place in the "Charola",
an octagonal chapel painted and carved in the Byzantine style and is at
the heart of the Covento de Cristo. A few kilometres to the
northeast of Fátima is the wondrous building constructed in memory
of the important battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. The Abbey at
Batalha commenced in 1388 and was added to by various Portuguese
Kings over the following centuries. To the northwest is the town of
Alcobaça that only became notable in the 12th Century when it
became the site for the important construction of Portugal’s largest
Abbey. To the north is the 16th Century town of Leiria that is
crowned with a 14th Century castle. It was in this castle that the King
Dom Dinis held the first “Cortes”, an advanced form in its
day of what is now viewed as type of democracy.
Fátima Photos
Fátima Cathedral and Square
· Fátima Cathedral
· Fátima Cathedral and Main Square
· View of Fátima
Costa Prata Towns
Alcobaça
· Aveiro
· Batalha
· Caldas da Rainha
· Coimbra
· Leiria
· Óbidos
· Tomar
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Useful Fátima Telephone Numbers
2495 Fátima