In Central Portugal, the sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima has become, throughout the years, the fourth biggest catholic pilgrimage site in the world, due to the apparitions of Virgin Mary to three little shepherds in 1917.
In this article, you’re going to learn more about the history of Our Lady of Fátima, the places to visit in the city and outskirts as well as the places where you can spend the night and have lunch or dinner. On the 13th May 1917, Lúcia and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco, aged 12, 9 and 7 years old, were herding sheep at Cova da Iria – Fátima, when they saw a bright light. First, they thought it was lightning but soon after a brighter light illuminated that place.
At that instant they saw next to a small oak tree a lady that shone more than the sun. This lady asked the three little shepherds to go to Cova da Iria on the 13th day of each month, at the same time for 6 months. She promised to reveal her identity as well as the purpose of her presence.
During the apparitions, this lady foretold some revelations like the end of the First World War and that Francisco and Jacinta would soon go to heaven (Francisco past away in 1919 and Jacinta in 1920, victims of the Spanish flu). As months went by, more and more people would appear to witness the apparitions. By the time of the second apparition, about 50 people were present but in the 13th October, during the sixth apparition, there were 50 000 people present to witness the miracle promised by this lady.
It was then that the three little shepherds knew that this lady was Our Lady of the Rosary.