Just 88 miles north of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, Fatima is one of the most important Catholic shrines, not only in Portugal, but in the world. The shrine is dedicated to the ‘Virgin Mary’ and welcomes millions each year who are on pilgrimages or simply touring the area.

Fatima’s fame comes greatly from the year 1917, when three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos and two cousins, Jacinta and Francisco all experienced apparitions of ‘Our Lady of the Rosary’. It is said that between May and October of the year, the children witnessed several apparitions, the last being on October 13th.

The last, and most famous, was declared a miracle after the ‘Mother of God’ appeared to the three children six times, telling them that Heaven would grant world peace if requests for prayer, reparation and consecration were heard and obeyed. This miracle is said to have been witnessed by 60,000 people, and known as “the day the sun danced”.

To find out more about this story, the nearest airport is Lisbon, around 140km away.

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