Fátima, Portugal

Fátima (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈfatimɐ] (listen)) is a city in the municipality of Ourém, Beira Litoral Province, in the Central Region and Médio Tejo intermunicipal community of Portugal, with 71.29 km2 of area and 11,788 inhabitants (2011). Its population density is 162.7 inhabitants/km2.[1] The homonymous civil parish encompasses several villages and localities of which the city of Fátima, with a population of 7,756 residents, is the largest.

Fátima
Civil parish
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima with the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Hungarian Calvary in Valinhos and the main avenue in Cova da Iria
Flag
Coat of arms
Fátima
Location in Portugal
Coordinates: 39°37′31″N 8°39′57″W
Country Portugal
RegionCentro
Intermunic. comm.Médio Tejo
DistrictSantarém
MunicipalityOurém
Area
 • Total71.29 km2 (27.53 sq mi)
Elevation
356 m (1,168 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total11,788
 • Density170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Postal code
2495
Area code249
PatronOur Lady of Pleasures
Our Lady of Fátima
Websitewww.freguesiadefatima.pt

The civil parish has been permanently associated with the Marian apparitions that were purportedly witnessed by three local shepherd children at the Cova da Iria in 1917. The Catholic Church later recognized these events as "worthy of belief". A small chapel was built at the site of the apparition, now known as Our Lady of Fátima, beginning in 1918, and a statue of her installed. The chapel and statue have since been enclosed within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, a shrine complex containing two minor basilicas. Associated facilities for pilgrims, including a hotel and medical centre, have also been built over the decades within and around the Sanctuary. The city has become an important international destination for religious tourists, receiving between 6 and 8 million pilgrims yearly.[2][3]

History
See also: Our Lady of Fátima, Three Secrets of Fátima, The Miracle of the Sun, and Marian apparition

The name of the town and parish is a rendition of the Arabic given name Fátima (فاطمة‎ Fāṭimah). (Fatimah is the namesake of Fatimah bint Muhammad, a daughter of the prophet of Islam Muhammad.)

A close-up of the Christian pilgrims during the Miracle of the Sun on 13 October 1917.
An image of the crowd during the last apparition in Cova da Iria.
Monument of the Guardian Angel of Portugal apparition to the three little shepherd children of Fátima.
Statue dedicated to the apparition of Our Lady which occurred exceptionally in Valinhos, near the Cova da Iria.

Fátima was said to be the name of a Moorish princess kidnapped by a knight, Gonçalo Hermigues, and his companions. Hermigues took her to a small village in the Serra de Aire hills, in the recently created Kingdom of Portugal. According to the Western Catholic narrative, Fatima fell in love with her kidnapper and decided to convert to Christianity in order to marry him. She was baptized and given a Christian name, Oureana.[4]

Arab sources, however, claim that Fátima was forced into Christianity,[5] as were most Reconquista captives. There is no documentary evidence to support either scenario of such a conversion.

Whatever version is true, the place name recalls the Princess' original Arab name rather than her Christian baptismal one.

The parish was founded in 1568, when it was annexed by the Collegiate of Ourém (Portuguese: Colegiada de Ourém). For centuries, most of the villagers kept herds of sheep and depended also on subsistence farming.[6]

Since the early 20th century, Fátima has been associated with events in which three local children, Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, purportedly saw visions of a woman known as Our Lady of Fátima, since believed by the Catholic Church to be the Virgin Mary. On 13 May 1917, whilst guarding their families' sheep in the Cova da Iria, the children first claimed to have seen an apparition of a "lady dressed in white" and shining with a bright light.[7][6]

The three shepherd children were born in Aljustrel, a small hamlet about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Fátima.[8] To the west, near Aljustrel, is Loca do Cabeço, a smaller agglomeration of rocky outcroppings where, in 1916, an angel appeared twice to the three children.[8] The children claimed to have seen the Marian apparition on six occasions; they said the last would be 13 October 1917.[6] An estimated 70,000 pilgrims went to the site for the last prophesied apparition in October. Some of them reported what has been referred to as the Miracle of the Sun, when some observers reported it appeared to be behaving unusually.[7][6]

The local bishop investigated the events and determined that the apparitions were worthy of belief. The site was marked by a cross erected by locals. In 1918 they built a small chapel, built from rock and limestone and covered in tile. It was 3.3 metres (11 ft) by 2.8 metres (9.2 ft) length, and 2.85 metres (9.4 ft) height. It became a centre for Marian devotion, receiving names such as a fé de Fátima, cidade da Paz ("the faith of Fátima, City of Peace"), or Terra de Milagres e Aparições ("Land of Miracles and Apparitions").[6]

The chapel has since been enclosed within a large basilica and sanctuary, part of a complex including a hotel and other facilities.[7][6] In 1930, the statue of Our Lady in the Chapel of Apparitions was crowned by the Vatican.

Francisco died in 1919 and Jacinta in 1920, during the international Spanish flu pandemic. Lucia dos Santos became a nun and lived until 2005.[7][6] The two who died young were beatified on 13 May 2000 by Pope John Paul II,[7] and were canonised by Pope Francis on 13 May 2017, the hundredth anniversary of the first apparition.[9]

The construction of the sanctuary and the steady visits by pilgrims stimulated local development. In addition to construction of a large shrine, basilica, and sanctuary, the complex includes a hotel and other facilities. The town of Fátima was elevated to the status of city on 12 July 1997.[8]

In the early 21st century, numerous residents of the parish (primarily from its business sector) worked to have Fátima designated as an independent municipality. The project, led by Júlio Silva, engineer and ex-president of the Junta de Freguesia (Parish Council), was vetoed on July 2003 by President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio.[8]

Geography and Climate

Fátima is located on the Estremenho Limestone Massif, on the flanks of the Serra de Aire, approximately 356 metres (1,168 ft) above sea level. The geology of the Serras de Aire and Candeeiros gives rise to an arid landscape with a rocky ground interspersed with limestone outcroppings.[8] There are various geological formations in the region including sinkholes, uvalas and polje (like the Polje de Minde-Mata), as well as karst grottoes, caves with stalactites and stalagmites, in addition to lapiez fields.[8]

The trees in this area are primarily dominated by holly oak (Quercus ilex), Portuguese oak (Quercus faginea), strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo), buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus), mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) and olive trees, all of which are resistant to both the winter precipitation extremes and the summer drought . There are also areas of savannah, strips of land bounded by walls of loose stone.[8] Pine and eucalyptus forests are also common in the outskirts of the city.

The parish contains the following localities: Aljustrel, Alvaijar, Amoreira, Boleiros, Casa Velha, Casal Farto, Chã, Charneca, Cova da Iria, Eira da Pedra, Fátima, Giesteira, Lombo da Égua, Maxeira, Moimento, Moita Redonda, Moitas, Montelo, Pederneira, Poço de Soudo, Ramila, Vale de Cavalos and Valinho de Fátima.

Climate

Fátima has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) in transition to a hot-summer (Csa).

The climate is characterized by heavy precipitation during the winter, with approximately 920 millimetres (36 in) annually, and warm, dry summers.

In the winter temperatures range between 13 °C (55 °F) at day and 5 °C (41 °F) at night with January being the coldest month, light frosts are typical during this month. Summer temperatures range between 27 °C (81 °F) at day and 15 °C (59 °F) at night. Temperatures can in rare cases reach 40 °C (104 °F) or more and are often accompanied by low humidity which can sometimes lead to unwanted forest fires around the area.

The city has about 2600 hours of annual sunshine. Snow is rare but not uncommon, the last one being in 2016 and 2013 both in 27 February.

Twin towns – Sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal

Fátima is twinned with:

Economy
The devotion through Our Lady of Fátima attracts millions of Christian pilgrims to Fátima, in Portugal.

The economy of the town relies on religious tourism because the world devotion through Our Lady of Fátima attracts millions of Christian pilgrims. The locals have numerous shops and stalls devoted to the sale of religious articles and souvenirs. In addition, services for tourists, hotels, restaurants and other retail also benefit from the visitors. Other economic activities in the region include: marble sculpturing, saw-milling, carpentry, civil construction, commerce, and services.

Pastoral visits

Architecture

Civic
The bus station of Fátima.
Three Little Shepherds monument.
  • Bus station of Fátima (Portuguese: Estação Rodoviária de Fátima)
  • Cistern of Gaiola (Portuguese: Cisterna em Gaiola)
  • Cistern of Ramila (Portuguese: Cisterna em Ramila)
  • Cistern of Capuchos (Portuguese: Cisterna dos Capuchos)
  • Civil Parish Building of Fátima (Portuguese: Junta de Freguesia de Fátima)
  • Fountain of Alveijar (Portuguese: Fonte do Alveijar)
  • Fountain of Lameira (Portuguese: Fonte da Lameira)
  • Fountain of Soudo Well (Portuguese: Fonte em Poço de Soudo)
  • Fountain of Vale da Pena (Portuguese: Fonte do Vale da Pena)
  • Fountain New (Portuguese: Fonte Nova)
  • House of Casal Farto (Portuguese: Casa de Casal Farto)
  • Main avenue of Fátima (Portuguese: Avenida de Dom José Alves Correia da Silva)
  • Mills of Fátima (Portuguese: Moinhos de Fátima)
  • Mills of Fazarga (Portuguese: Moinhos da Fazarga)
  • Mills of Giesteira (Portuguese: Moinhos da Giesteira)
  • Mill of Ortiga (Portuguese: Moinho da Ortiga)
  • Monument of the Three Little Shepherds (Portuguese: Monumento dos Pastorinhos - Rotunda Sul de Fátima)
  • Old mill of Ramila (Portuguese: Moinho Arruinado em Ramila)
  • Olive Oil Press in Estrada das Matas (Portuguese: Lagar de azeite na Estrada das Matas)
  • Porch House with Sundial (Portuguese: Casa Alpendrada com relógio de Sol em Casal Farto)
  • Residence of Francisco and Jacinta Marto, visionaries of Fátima (Portuguese: Casa de Francisco e Jacinta Marto, videntes de Fátima)
  • Residence of Lúcia dos Santos (Portuguese: Casa de Lúcia dos Santos, vidente de Fátima)
  • Threshing-floor of Ramila (Portuguese: Eira em Ramila)

Religious
Panoramic view of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima (with the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Sacred Heart statue and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary)
The Basilica of the Holy Trinity is the 4th largest Catholic church in the world.
The Way of the Cross in Valinhos.
The Calvary in Fátima, Portugal.
The Parish Church of Fátima.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ortiga.
  • Chapel of Casal Farto (Portuguese: Capela de Casal Farto)
  • Chapel of Lombo de Égua (Portuguese: Capela de Lombo de Égua)
  • Chapel of Our Lady of Conception (Portuguese: Capela da Amoreira/Capela de Nossa Senhora da Conceição)
  • Church of Our Lady of Livramento (Portuguese: Capela de Boleiros/Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Livramento)
  • Church of Saint Anthony (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Fátima / Igreja Paroquial de Santo António)
  • Basilica of the Holy Trinity (Portuguese: Basílica da Santíssima Trindade), on the far side of the sanctuary's esplanade is the basilica, a neo-classical structure with a central tower 65 meters (213 ft) high, which was begun on 13 May 1928. It is flanked by colonnades linking it with the extensive convent and hospital buildings. Within the basilica are the tombs of the three witnesses to the apparitions: Jacinta and Francisco Marto and Lúcia dos Santos. The Church of the Holy Trinity, one of the largest churches in the world, was built on the other side of the esplanade in the early 21st century.
  • Sanctuary of Fátima (Portuguese: Santuário de Fátima)
  • Chapel of the Apparitions (Portuguese: Capelinha das Aparições)
  • Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (Portuguese: Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário)
  • Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ortiga (Portuguese: Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Ortiga)
  • Parochial church of Fátima (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Fátima)
  • Stations of the Cross of Valinhos (Portuguese: Via Sacra dos Valinhos)
  • Statues of the Angel of Portugal (Portuguese: Estátua do Anjo de Portugal na Loca do Cabeço e no Poço do Arneiro)
  • Chapel of Saint Stephen of Hungary (Portuguese: Capela de Santo Estevão)
  • Byzantine Chapel of the Holy Dormition (Portuguese: Capela Bizantina da Sagrada Dormição), identified by its distinctive onion dome. Located at Domus Pacis, the headquarters of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fátima. Used by the local Ukrainian Greek Catholic community.

Culture

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, in Cova da Iria, is the principal focus of all visitors. Annually, at least five million Catholic pilgrims fill the country roads leading to the Marian shrine. Numbers can reach hundreds of the thousands on 13 May and 13 October, the most significant dates of the apparitions in Fátima.[11]

Sports

Fátima's major sports club is the Sport Center of Fátima, currently in Portuguese football's second tier, the LigaPro.

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See also

References
  1. City Hall of Fátima, Census 2011 (INE) results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal
  2. "Religion moves 330 million tourists a year and six million go to Fátima", Diário de Notícias, 19 February 2017.
  3. "Fátima expects to receive 8 million visitors in 2017", in Sapo20, 15 December 2016.
  4. "How Fatima Came To Be". www.holymary.info.
  5. "القديسـة فـاطمـة Saint Fatima". www.iraker.dk.
  6. Junta de Freguesia de Fátima, ed. (2018), History, Fátima (Ourém), Portugal, retrieved 2 February 2018
  7. Walsh, William Thomas (1 October 1954), Our Lady of Fátima, Random House, ISBN 978-0385028691
  8. Junta Freguesia, ed. (2011), Caracterização (in Portuguese), Fátima (Ourém), Portugal, retrieved 12 October 2012
  9. "Pope Francis canonises two children at Portugal's Fatima shrine". BBC. BBC. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  10. "Association of Towns awarded The Europe Prize". czestochowa.um.gov.pl. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  11. Trudy Ring (1996), p.245
  • Ring, Trudy (1996), International Dictionary of Historic Places, ISBN 978-1-884964-02-2
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