Ourém Municipality, Portugal Travel Journals & Blogs

Traveler Portugal
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- Jun 27, 2022, 1:33pm
- ☀️ 66 °F
- Altitude: 1,115 ft
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Cova da Iria 39.630104, -8.67460339°37’48” N 8°40’29” W
Day 7
Our Lady of Fátima
June 27, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
The apparition of Our Lady of Fátima figured PROMINENTLY in the library of St. Aloysius elementary school when I was a child. PROMINENTLY. So, I could not go to Portugal without visiting Fátima. The site where the Virgin Mary appeared to the three children in 1917 was first marked by a tiny chapel. Over the years, it's expanded to a massive pilgrimage site - they say they had 6.3 million pilgrims in 2019, and they get hundreds of thousands of visitors at a time on major pilgrimage days. I visited on a regular day, so it was easy to get around the massive plaza and big churches. The gift store -- which of course sells rosaries and glow-in-the-dark statues of Virgin Mary -- however, was still packed with nuns.Read more
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Traveler Carl & Jaynes 2019 Adventure
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- Nov 15, 2019, 1:18pm
- ⛅ 9 °C
- Altitude: 343 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Moita 39.63396, -8.6712839°38’2” N 8°40’17” W
Day 46
Fatima
November 15, 2019 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Woke up to a small hail shower this morning but it had cleared by the time we were ready to pack up. Services done (water, waste etc) off we went towards Fatima, with a planned stop at a motorhome accessories shop. Could do with new wire shelves for the oven. Arrived at 12.30 only to find it closed. Sat nav had a bit of a meltdown on the way, losing satellite reception, sending us down dead ends and finally putting us on a toll road even though we have them banned in the settings. Still all part of the fun. Arrived at the aire just in time for lunch.
There's free hot showers and a toilet block here, not bad for a free car park in the centre of town. Behind us is the The Sanctuary of Our Lady Fatima, quite and impressive building from a distance, breath taking once inside.Read more
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Traveler World Youth Day 2023
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- Aug 7, 2023, 10:30pm
- 🌙 27 °C
- Altitude: 346 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Cova da Iria 39.630147, -8.6741339°37’49” N 8°40’27” W
Day 11
The Three Secrets of Fatima
August 7, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
Mary told the children the first secret in July of 1917.

The first secret described Hell as a horrible place where sinners’ souls burned. Mary said that to save these souls, acts of prayer and sacrifice were necessary.

The second secret prophesized the end of the First World War, but also the outbreak of the Second World War if sinning was to continue. Mary also called for the Consecration of Russia or else peace would not occur. Many say she also predicted the rise and fall of Communism.

The third secret was not revealed that easily. In 1943 Lucia was ill and asked by the Bishop to reveal it, but she said God had not authorized her to do so. The Bishop still ordered her to write it down. Lucia decided to write it in a sealed envelope that could only be opened in 1960. In 1960, the Vatican issued a press release stating that the third secret would remain sealed forever. For years, Christians around the world speculated on the content of the third secret and some even feared it could refer to worldwide nuclear annihilation.

However, the secret was released in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. The Vatican said the secret spoke of the 20th-century persecution of Christians, leading to the failed assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II in 1981.

The text revealed said that Mary spoke of a “Bishop clothed in white” who prays faithfully. In her vision, he was making his way towards the cross passing through the bodies of those who were martyred, like priests and other religious people. This speaks to the prosecution of Christians. He then falls to the ground dead after hearing gunfire. This message was allegedly confirmed by Sister Lucia.Read more
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Traveler Sommer 2022 Portugal
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- Sep 3, 2022, 12:00pm
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 344 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Cova da Iria 39.630361, -8.6746239°37’49” N 8°40’29” W
Day 15
Fatima
September 3, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Nach ein paar Tagen geniessen im Haus, hatten Lust auf einen Ausflug. Der Tesla Supercharger in Fatima war der erste in Portugal und im Restaurant nebenan gibt es einen ‚Bolo Elon Musk‘ welcher in den sozialen Medien immer gelobt wurde. So war unser Ziel klar und wir führen auf der IC1 gemütlich mit einem Zwischenhalt in Alcácer do Sal nach Fatima.
Der Kuchen war wirklich lecker, eine Mischung mit Äpfel und Nüssen. Natürlich besuchten wir auch die Wallfahrtskirche von Fatima.Read more
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Traveler Península Ibérica & Marruecos
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- Oct 13, 2022
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 347 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Moita 39.633943, -8.67168839°38’2” N 8°40’18” W
Day 54
Fátima
October 13, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Das Heiligtum von Fátima, der bedeutendste Wallfahrtsort Portugals und einer der bekanntesten der römisch-katholischen Kirche.

Das Heiligtum hat seinen Ursprung in den Marienerscheinungen von Fátima.
Berichtet wird, dass am 13. Mai 1917 drei Hirtenkindern, Lúcia dos Santos und den Geschwistern Jacinta und Francisco Marto, auf einem Feld die Jungfrau Maria erschienen sei. Diese habe ihnen befohlen, künftig an jedem 13. des Monats an diesen Ort zurückzukommen. Die Kinder vereinbarten untereinander Stillschweigen über diese Erscheinung, Jacinta brach jedoch dieses Versprechen, und so fanden sich am 13. Juni einige Neugierige ein, die sich mit eigenen Augen überzeugen wollten, ob die Geschichten der Kinder stimmten.
Als jedoch im Juli, August und September die Zahl der Schaulustigen immer größer wurde, kündigte die Erscheinung für den 13. Oktober (heute) ein Wunder an. Am fraglichen Tag hätten Zehntausende von Anwesenden ein Sonnenwunder gesehen – sie konnten problemlos die Sonne, die einer Silberscheibe ähnelte, anschauen, während sich diese wie ein Feuerrad gedreht habe. Am 13. Mai 1930 wurden die Erscheinungen von José Alves Correia da Silva (1852–1957), dem Bischof von Leiria, für glaubwürdig erklärt und die öffentliche Verehrung Unserer Lieben Frau von Fátima an diesem Ort gestattet.

Gegenüber der alten Rosenkranz-Basilika wurde 2007 die neue Basilika zur Heiligsten Dreifaltigkeit geweiht. Sie ist mit annähernd 9000 Sitzplätzen die viertgrößte katholische Kirche der Welt und der bislang größte Kirchenneubau des 21. Jahrhunderts (2009). Zwischen den beiden Kirchen befindet sich zudem der größte Kirchenvorplatz der Welt.

Im Jahre 2019 kamen rund 6,3 Millionen Pilger nach Fátima, mehr als zu allen anderen Wallfahrtsorten in Europa. Viele von ihnen kamen in einer der 4.384 Pilgergruppen, die sich beim Wallfahrtsbüro registrieren ließen, davon 2.854 aus dem Ausland (aus mehr als 80 Ländern) und 1.530 aus Portugal.

Alles von Wikipedia

Der Kirchplatz ist wirklich mächtig groß, viel zu groß. Und alle Portugiesen, die ein Wohnmobil besitzen, sind heute hier (zumindest wirkt es so bei all den vollen Parkplätzen).Read more
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Traveler Nordspanien, Portugal
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- Feb 14, 2024, 8:53pm
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 343 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Moita 39.633915, -8.67128139°38’2” N 8°40’17” W
Day 15
Praia d. Vieira, São Pedro d. Moel
February 14 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Erst einmal bleiben wir am Atlantik und lassen die Eindrücke an den beiden Orten auf uns wirken. Es sind 20°C, Da macht es Freude, am Strand zu sein.
Und dann fahren wir wieder weiter ins Land nach Fátima. Der Stellplatz liegt direkt hinter der Basilika.Read more
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Traveler World Youth Day 2023
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- Aug 7, 2023, 11:00am
- ☀️ 33 °C
- Altitude: 342 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Cova da Iria 39.63145, -8.673139°37’53” N 8°40’23” W
Day 11
Fatima
August 7, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Today we arrived in Fatima. I will admit, I knew very little about this town before arriving. Upon our arrival we visited the Sanctuary which is home to 2 Basilicas and 1 incredible story.

The story of the Our Lady of Fátima miracle begins on May 13, 1917. Three peasant children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia were tending to their family’s sheep. The children under 10 years old were blessed with the presence of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. In Portugal, she is also known as Fátima. The children saw this beautiful woman, dressed in white and standing above a bush. The Virgin Mary told the children that world peace would occur if they spread the godly message of prayer.

She visited the young children on the 13th for the next six months. She revealed to the children three secrets. The children were told to make sacrifices to save sinners. They were tight cords around their wrists and did not drink water on hot days. Lucia told the villagers that Mary asked them to say the Rosary every day in order to keep world peace.

News of the apparitions spread throughout the village, some believing the children and some not so much. The Blessed Virgin Mary promised the children that one day a prophecy would occur that would show the village people that they were being truthful. These events culminated in the sixth final apparition “Miracle of the Sun”.

In 2017, Pope Francis went on to officially recognize the Miracle of the Sun and even canonized two of the children, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, over 100 years after their death. This means that Pope Francis made the children officially saints!
Lucia, the cousin of Jacinta and Francisco Marto passed away in 2005 and is being considered for possible beatification. This is the step right before sainthood and essentially signifies that she is blessed in heaven. However, this process could only legally start in 2010, at least five years after her death, and is not yet finished. Pope Francis has visited the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima multiple times.Read more
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Traveler Unsere 1. WoMo-Reise
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- Mar 8, 2023
- 🌧 17 °C
- Altitude: 344 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Moita 39.633803, -8.67107839°38’2” N 8°40’16” W
Day 109
Fatima
March 8, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Zum Abschluss unseres 50-tägigen Aufenthaltes in Portugal haben wir die Pilgerstadt Fatima besucht. März scheint generell eine sehr ruhige Zeit zu sein, so dass wir direkt hinter der Kirche parkieren und übernachten konnten.
Informationen über Fatima und die religiösen Hintergründe sind im Internet abrufbar.
Sehr beeindruckend ist die neue Basilika mit über 8600 Plätzen. Trotz der riesigen Dimensionen ist diese Kirche ein Ort der Stille und Besinnung.Read more
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Traveler Holy Land and Portugal WYD
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- Aug 7, 2023, 3:52pm
- ☀️ 40 °C
- Altitude: 345 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Cova da Iria 39.631626, -8.67312939°37’54” N 8°40’23” W
Day 17
Fatima
August 7, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 40 °C
Our amazing pilgrimage adventure takes us north today to Fatima, where in 1917 the Blessed Virgin
Mary appeared to three unsuspecting peasant children as ‘a lady in white’.
After our arrival, we will take an opportunity for lunch before we commence our first of two
excursions* before returning to the Square to celebrate our unforgettable Mass in the Chapel of
Apparitions presided by Archbishop Anthony Fisher.
*FATIMA EXCURSIONS
Sanctuary Guided Tour
Set off on foot with a guided orientation tour of Fatima Square (the largest in all of Christendom), the
chapel site of the apparitions, the Rosary Basilica with the tombs of the visionaries, the Museum,
Blessed Sacrament Chapel and more.

After Mass, journey south to our WYD Retreat lodgings in Tomar and the neighbouring vicinity. Dating
back to 1160, the Convent of Christ here in Tomar was the original home and stronghold of the
powerful Knights Templar, until later becoming the seat of the new ‘Order of Christ’.Read more
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Traveler Marokko & Portugal
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- Apr 5, 2023, 12:04pm
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 347 m
- Portugal Santarém Fátima Cova da Iria 39.631667, -8.67333339°37’54” N 8°40’24” W
Day 87
Fatima
April 5, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Am 13.5.1917 erschien hier drei Hirtenkindern die Mutter Gottes. Zuerst wurde hier eine kleine Kapelle gebaut wo vor allem Kranke für ihre Heilung beteten.
Heute steht die kleine Kapelle am Rand eines 150.000qm grossen Platzes - wir waren schier erschrocken über die Grösse. Nun steht dort zusätzlich eine neoklassizistische Basilika mit einem 65m hohen Turm. Einige Pilger rutschen auf Knien über den Platz, andere versuchen ihre Kerzen in riesigen Feuerschalen anzuzünden - ohne selbst dabei zu verbrennen. Grotesk.Read more
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