Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima

It stands in the place where, on May 13, 1917, the three children were playing "a paredit to do," when suddenly they saw a lightning scared them and made them join the herd to return home. The project was designed by Dutch architect Gerard Van Kriechen and continued by the architect João Antunes. On May 13, 1928 the first stone was blessed by the Archbishop of Évora, D. Manuel da Conceição Santos. The consecration was on October 7, 1953. The title of "Basilica" was granted by Pope Pius XII, in the brief "Luce Supernal", November 1954.

The building, which measures 70.5 meters long and 37 wide, was built entirely with stone from the region (instead of Moimenta) and the altars are marble from Estremoz, Pero Pinheiro and Fatima.

The bell tower, erected in the center of the ensemble, is 65 meters high and is topped by a crown of 7,000 pounds of bronze, foundry built in Bolhão, Porto, topped by an illuminated cross that night, you can see the long distance. The carillon consists of 62 bells, cast iron and tempered at Fatima by José Gonçalves Coutinho, Braga. The largest bell weighs 3,000 pounds, and the clapper 90. The clock is the work of Benedict Rodrigues, Braga. Angels on the facade of marble, are from France Albano.

The statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the niche of the tower is 4.73 meters and weighs 14 tons. At the entrance of the basilica, above the main door is a mosaic that represents the Holy Trinity crowning the Virgin Mary. He was executed in the workshops and there blessed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Eugenio Paccelli, the future Pope Pius XII, the "Pope of Fatima".

Organ of the Basilica

Built and assembled by Fratelli Rufatto Firm of Padua in 1952. The five bodies scattered originally were gathered in 1962 in the chorus. These five bodies, the Great Organ, Positive, Recitative, Solo and Eco, are driven by a 5 console keyboards and pedals.
It has about 12,000 records and 152 tubes of lead, tin and wood, most of which are 11 meters and the lowest with 9 mm.

Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Following the new revelations by Sister Lucia's appearance on July 13, 1917, in which Our Lady revealed to the seers your Immaculate Heart, new images were carved in this invocation, the first of which, also by the sculptor José Thedim, is the Caramel of Coimbra.
On May 13, 1958, opened a large statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, carved by Father Thomas McGlynn, OP, on the advice of Sister Lucia, and placed in the niche of the facade of the Basilica on June 13, 1959. It has a height of 4.73 m and weighs 14 tons.

This image, supply of American Catholics, evokes the message content on the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady alluded to in the first three appearances of the Cova da Iria and the apparitions of Pontevedra: the devotion of the five first Saturdays, the consecration Russia and the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.

Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

This monument stands in the center of prayer halls, in front of the Chapel of Apparitions.

The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is made of bronze, an unknown author. Was offered by a stranger and solemnly blessed by the Apostolic Nuncio, Msgr. Beda Cardinale, on May 13, 1932.

This picture reminds us that the Message of Fatima also speaks in the Heart of Jesus, that the apparitions of the Angel, whether through Our Lady, which is the way that leads to love of God.