Fátima Things to Do

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The Chapel of Apparitions is a small chapel that was built on the site where the three children had their visions of the Virgin Mary. A tiny chapel and a statue of the Virgin Mary are located within, as well as benches for pilgrims to sit down on while praying.

Near the Chapel of the Apparitions is an area where you can buy and light candles. Unfortunately, the heat from all of the candles is so high that many of the tall, thin candles melt and get distorted. However, it's the thought (and/or prayer) that counts, so go ahead and light a candle in memory of a loved one.

The Chapel of Reconciliation (Capela da Reconciliacao) is where Catholic visitors to Fatima can confess their sins to priests on a one-on-one basis. Priests are available in most major languages of European and North and South American Catholicism (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Polish, Italian, etc.).

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The three shepherd children (Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco) are buried in the Basilica. Their tombs are located on the sides of the basica near the front. Many pilgrims to Fatima pray at the tombs and leave flowers.

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The basilica was built between 1928 and the early 1950s. It contains the graves of the three shepherd children who saw the Virgin Mary in 1917. The basilica hosts multiple masses each day and is open to tourists in between the masses.

When in Fatima for 3 or more days, you have the chance to walk around the area and discover the different areas, such as Valihos, Aljustrel, The Ways of the Cross. These areas are excellent places to just walk and meditate, listen to the birds singing in the trees. Their so small, you can hardly see them , but the sound is just beautiful. You see the change from 100 years to the present time as you walk these areas. Time seems to come to a stop, and means nothing.

Very little I could find out about the golden statue dedicated to the sacred heart of jesus, shining bright from the middle of the esplanade. All I know is that it's located over a spring found in that place. Water (says the official fatima site) is the instrument of many graces.

The colonnade surrounding the esplanade, and running in the shape of a crescent to the left and right of the basilica, is an impressive piece of architecture. OK, it's not very original (you can see a similar, older and more impressive version in Saint peter's square in Rome - and yet it's the part I like best. On the colonnade there's a long row of statues - those of the 4 portuguese saints (St. John of God, St. John of Brito, St. Anthony and Bl. Nuno of Santa Maria) and other more international saints, including St. Teresa of Avila, St. Jonh Bosco with St. Dominic Savio, and St. Paul of the Cross.