Fatima, Portugal
Fatima has grown from a tiny village in 1917 to a city in 1997 with a population of twelve thousand in 2011. Fatima is now a popular pilgrimage destination for Catholic travelers since three shepherd children saw regular, repeated apparitions of Mother Mary at a nearby well and tree. Beginning with a simple chapel in 1918 the worship space has continued to grow with three main worship spaces and a connected convent and hospital. Supporting all of this, there now are many shops and restaurants for day visitors and a hotel for those making longer stays. It is only 150 kilometers from Lisbon.
The large sacred space is called Cova da Iria and includes the buildings for worship and the outdoor gathering space with statues. The following pictures will give a sense for the size of the place.
In the center is the well and the Sacred Heart Statue. To the right is the Chapel of the Apparitions where the first chapel was built. At the far end is the Basilica of the Holy Trinity built between 2004 and 2007. It has the capacity to seat over 8,600 worshipers. In the top left, a steel cross rises 38 meters and is probably the first structure to catch your eye as you approach the square.
Looking between the arches of the Holy Trinity Basilica is the Basilica of the Rosary at the far end of the square.
Walking through the square toward the Chapel of Apparitions.
As we walked toward the well and Sacred Heart Statue I noticed the barricades set up to control the crowds expected to soon fill the square.
The Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary is linked to the convent and the Hospital by a colonnade.
– Where do you want to go today? –
https://portugal.com/portugal/cities/fatima
http://robertschad.eu/sculptures/a-cross-for-fatima/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cova_da_Iria
I love how you framed the picture of the new Basilica to older Basilica! Awesome views!
Thank you.
Now I am working on the interior views. Stained glass seems to be the preferred window treatment.