Introduction to Fatima

 On the 13th May 1917 a lady appeared to three shepherd children, Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto who were looking after their flocks in the fields near the small village of Fatima. She told them that she was the "Lady of the Rosary" and that a chapel should be built for her. The three children continued to witness apparitions of the Virgin Mary on the 13th day of the five months that followed. Thus the sanctuary of Fatima was built; a beautiful church overlooking a large open plaza. Since then millions of pilgrims have been coming from all over the world to receive the message of Fatima: the call to prayer and penance. As our tours are tailor made, it is possible to vary the length of your stay and either spend the duration of your pilgrimage in Fatima taking part in the local programme of daily Masses, prayer and devotions or combine Fatima with a cultural visit of Portugal including Lisbon, Sintra, Batalha and Obidos. It is also possible to visit Fatima with Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Lourdes in France.

This tour is available for groups of 15 or more pilgrims

 Please email info@special-pilgrimages.co.uk or call 01702 394000 for further details regarding arranging a group pilgrimage to Fatima

 Sample Itinerary

Day 1

London / Lisbon / Fatima

Meeting and assistance by a Special Pilgrimages representative upon arrival at the airport. We will then fly on a direct scheduled service to Lisbon. Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Lisbon and transfer to your hotel in Fatima for check in, dinner and overnight stay. You will stay here for 4 nights on Half Board basis.

Day 2

Fatima

Six times, from May 13 to Oct 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three novices belonging to the diocese of Leiria. Millions of pilgrims Fatima each year. Fatima is one of the most visited holy places for Catholics from around the world. The atmosphere of intense spirituality and the importance of Fatima have been attested to by the visits of two Popes: Paul VI and John Paul II. Your guide will inform you of the daily happenings in Fatima. We will celebrate Mass in the morning before we visit Fatima including the Little Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica, the site of Francesco and Jacinta's graves, the Hamlet of Aljustrel and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's appearance after the children's return from prison. Follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (the Sacred Way), culminating in the Chapel of Calvary that overlooks all of Fatima. Join pilgrims from around the world in an evening candlelight procession of the Blessed Sacrament to pray the rosary at 21:30 hours. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Fatima.

Day 3

Obidos / Batalha / Alcobaca / Nazare / Fatima  

This morning we will visit the walled city of Obidos, one of the most beautiful Medieval cities in Europe. Celebrate Mass in Obidos. We will then visit the Dominican Monastery at Batalha. This is a UNESCO heritage site and one of the most important Gothic Sites in all of Portugal and an architectural masterpiece. The convent was built to thank the Virgin Mary for the Portuguese victory over the Castilians in the battle of Aljubarrota and it took over a century to complete. We will then have a traditional Portuguese lunch. In the afternoon continue to Alcobaca to visit the Cistercian monastery. We will finish our day at the picturesque fishing port Nazare. We will then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4

Fatima

After breakfast today is free in Fatima for your own activities. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.

Day 5

Coimbra / Fatima

In the morning we will proceed to Coimbra, the medieval capital of Portugal where we will visit the Carmelite Convent where Sister Lucia is resident. (You may not be able to see Sister Lucia herself as she belongs to an enclosed order.) We will also have a city tour of Coimbra and visit St. Michael’s chapel and the ruins of Santa Clara and the university, which is Portugal’s oldest and most distinguished. We will celebrate Mass in Coimbra and then you will have some free time for your own activities. Return to Fatima for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6

Fatima

After breakfast the day is free in Fatima for your own activities. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.

Day 7

Sintra / Lisbon

Today we will check out of our hotel in Fatima and proceed to Sintra, with its mountains, forests and exotic gardens. We will visit the UNESCO site Sintra Vila, dotted with pastel-hued manors folded into luxuriant hills that roll down to the Atlantic. We will then continue to Lisbon, the birthplace of Saint Anthony, to visit Saint Anthony’s Church and celebrate Mass. We will also visit the small museum, which relates to the life of Anthony. We will then proceed to Pasteis de Belem in order to try the delicious custard pastries that Lisbon is famous for. Later in the afternoon we will take a walking tour of some places of interest in Lisbon before we proceed to our hotel in Lisbon for check in, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8

Lisbon / London

In the morning we will leave our hotel and proceed to Lisbon airport for our return flight to London