We did the "Full Day Tour to Obidos, Batalha, Nazare and Fatima" through the Shore Excursions Group…read morewhich looks like is equivalent to the Gray Line's "West: Fátima, Nazaré, Óbidos, Batalha" tour. Katarina as our guide who did the tour in two languages. We did this tour the day after we arrived in Lisbon. It was about 14 hours. We met the Gray Line bus location near the Praca Marques de Pobal statue by the Parque Eduardo VII early in the morning. There was a bathroom behind the bus area and before you go to deep into the park. We had stayed at Hotel Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa, as opposed to closer to the cruise port, so we would be within walking distance to the meeting point early in the morning.
- Obidos - 1 hour on our own - picturesque town from the Roman times with a wall, castle, and church. We tried Liquor de Ginja, local liquor served in a chocolate shell for 1.5 Euros on our own. There was a pharmacy before you go to far into town.
- Nazarre - town where there used to be a Virgin Mary statue in the 12th century believed to be from the Nazareth, Israel. A replacement statue is there down steps in a small area. Nazarre was above on a cliff and down by the beach and we had a lunch break. We ate at Casalinho Restaurant. We got the cod, but the seafood boats were their specialty and came out to much fanfare.
- Bahalha - UNESCO world heritage site - Dominican monastery built in the 14th century. Gothic architecture. No monks there now. Short stop.
- Fatima - stopped at a large gift shop for 25 minutes of shopping, then went to the site. Make sure you take and keep the coupon passed out. When you buy something, you give the coupon and they give you a tiny plastic statue of the Lady of Fatima.
We had one hour at the actual site. We arrived later in the day, so it wasn't packed with tour groups. The sheer scale of the plaza is striking, especially when you imagine it filled with pilgrims during holy days. Watching the most devoted crawl on their knees along the long, smooth path built for them--some openly sobbing--makes the depth of devotion people bring here unmistakably clear.
To the left is the Chapel of the Apparitions, a small, simple structure. A statue of the Blessed Mother stands on a marble pillar marking the site of her appearance, with rows of benches on three sides. The chapel is covered yet open to the elements and fresh air. Despite the number of visitors, I was struck by the quiet respect--no people sitting on their phones or talking loudly. Most sat silently, many clearly in prayer.
Although I did not see Our Lady of Fátima appear, I could feel the reverence created by the millions of prayers offered here over time. I felt a palpable sense of "gentle compassion," as if those prayers were being listened to and heard by Our Lady.
Near the Sanctuary was a long line of people. You could buy candles and throw them in a raging firepit. I guess it was a large scale version of lighting votive candles to make an offering. Normally, in the Catholic faith, we may buy and light a candle and offer a prayer, but we don't toss the candle in a fire. I didn't like the firepit idea unless people were lighting candles to toss away their sins. It reminded me more of Hell than being uplifting.
The complex includes two large churches, including a newer basilica built to hold up to 8,000 people. In the original Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary are the tombs of the children who witnessed the apparitions.
Helpful Tip: Restrooms are available beneath the modern church. Look for the steps leading down to a lower level in front of it--signage is minimal, but facilities are located there.
For me the reason why we went on this tour was to see Fatima, and I felt the amount of time, roughly an hour, was enough even with time to pray at the sanctuary, basilica and newer church and walk the long distances. I saw the tombs of the shepherd girls. There might have been some more I missed, but I feel it was enough time there. We enjoyed seeing the other towns in Portugal as well
