Fatima, Portugal
Fatimais a small town in Portugal located 88 miles N of Lisbon and 36 miles E of Nazaré. Fátima is a major Catholic pilgrimage site because of reported sightings of the Virgin Mary in 1917 by three local shepherd children. The terrain around the village is wild and barren; a stark contrast with the fervent devotion of the millions of pilgrims that visit each year, especially for the main festivals on May 13 and October 13. See our article on the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima for a full history of the visions and an illustrated guide to the shrine.
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Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima is one of most famous Marian shrines in the world. Some 4 million people visit each year, drawn by visions of the Virgin Mary reported by shepherd children in 1917.