www.discoverportugal2day.com
Indicates Pousada location
A
s I said before, on my first visit to Portugal, I took a tour to Fátima. We decided to take the trip again to see what had changed. After all it had only been forty years.
My first visit to Fátima
I
found that the all day tours left daily right across the street from the hotel (at the bottom of Edward VII Park by the Marquês de Pombal Circle). Most of the hotels have circulars on the tours available and where their departure locations are located.
T
he first stop on the trip was Óbidos. Óbidos is a picture-postcard town, flower-covered balconies, whitewashed houses, roofs of orange tiles and narrow cobblestone streets -- all surrounded by Moorish walls and dominated by an old castle. This tiny walled town has hardly changed at all since the middle ages. It started its existence as a fortress on the sea but the bay silted up leaving the town without a purpose. In 1228 King Dinis paused at Óbidos. His wife so admired the charm of the town, he gave it to her as a present.The village is so small it can be easily explored on foot. So if you arrive by car, park your car in the ample parking lot outside the gates and explore the town by foot. It is an experience that is well worth taking the time to savor.
The massively towered castle has been converted into a beautiful Pousada. You must make reservations well in advance to get a room here as it is one of Portugal's most popular Pousadas.
We have never stayed at the Pousada but the last time that we were in Óbidos we stayed at the Estalagem do Convento which was very nice and is located just outside the walls of the town.
I
had heard about a Manor house that is located very close to the town. We took a
ride to it and we were extremely impressed. It is called the
Casa
d' Óbidos. We didn't stay here, but after seeing it we wished we had. It is
very convenient to the town. A very pleasant owner showed us around the house.
Each of the bedrooms and baths were beautifully decorated. There are gardens,
pool, and tennis courts. There is also, an attractive two-bedroom Cottage
available for renting. With the town of Óbidos in the background you have a
very pleasant setting.
The towns of Nazaré and Peniche with their beaches and fine fish restaurants are within easy driving distance. There are also facilities nearby for riding and playing golf. With the new highway system Óbidos is very convenient to many locations.
The Western Region, also known as the "Estremadura" is located just a few Kilometers and just west of Óbidos and is know to be the "land of sea and vineyards".
Foz do Arelho
It includes Foz do Arelho with its extensive avenue of street cafes and seafood restaurants, water sports and breathtaking view of the Atlantic and Óbidos Lagoon.
Caldas da Rainha
Caldas da Rainha famous for its ceramics and outdoor market. It also offers you a wide range of very good restaurants featuring fine traditional foods.
If you wish to do a
wine tour and enjoy lunch in one
of the wine estates please contact
Fatima
Figueiredo at her e-mail address or visit her web site
Foz do Areglho
for information on properties that are available.
If you are interested in an Apartment near the Praia del rey please visit this site
T
hen it was on to Alcobaça, the site of the Alcobaça Monastery that is the largest and finest church in Portugal -the Monumental Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria, founded in 1152. It is a spectacular monument with marvelous halls and cloisters making this the finest Cistercian structure anywhere in the world.It is here that King Pedro I, and his mistress Inês, were buried facing each other, so that on judgment day their first sight will be of each other.
For lunch it was on to Nazaré. Well, it is no longer the little fishing village that I first saw forty years ago. Now it is a tourists beach resort. It is still beautiful. The beaches are big, sandy, and expansive. I noticed a lot of fashionable houses on the cliffs overlooking the beach.
I still remember that day long ago. We were probably some of the first Americans that the townspeople had seen. They couldn't do enough for us. We didn't speak Portuguese and they didn't speak English. They frantically searched the town for an interpreter. They finally found one and introduced us to him. He spoke French. We didn't. Well we really didn't need one. The generosity and the friendliness of the people had already eliminated any language barriers.
Beach at Nazaré from the Cliffs
This visit was a little different, we had a nice meal at one of the restaurants visited a few tourist shops and we were off again. However, the friendliness was still there. My wife got into one of her famous bartering sessions with the local shopkeepers, whom everyone enjoyed, especially me who was the recipient of the sweater. Also the waiter at the restaurant who sensed that I was the only one not eating the ordered fish course made a special effort to provide me with some pork.
Beach at Nazaré
T
he next stop was Batalha. Here we visited the Mostairo de Santa Maria da Vitoria that is a masterpiece of Portuguese Gothic architecture. This town is aptly named by the Portuguese word for battle. A mighty army from Castile had invaded to contest the claims of King Joào I who had usurped the Portuguese throne. He vowed that success came his way he would endow a monastery. Joào won a resounding victory and construction of the monastery was began three years latter.The first stage of construction consisted of the church, founder's chapel, royal Cloister and chapterhouse and was finished by 1436. The first architect, Afonso Domingues, was Portuguese, but the second was a Norman who lent feelings of English Gothic. King Joào's son Dom Duarte finished the founders chapel. His successor Afonso V appended a second cloister. Manuel I decorated various parts in the style named for him. Joào III added dormitories before stopping work for good in 1550. By then a century and a half of building by the mightiest monarchs of Portugal had created a monastery of surpassing majesty.
Today in the charterhouse lies the Tomb of Portugal's Unknown Soldier (from WWI) perpetually guarded.
T
hen it was on to our final stop, Fátima. The shrine of Fátima was built on the spot where three children tending their sheep saw the Virgin Mary in 1917. There is chapel built on that spot and a Shrine was erected near by. The Shrine is very worthwhile seeing. A chapel has been built on the spot that the Virgin was seen.O
n that Sunday, May 13 1917, the three little shepherds, Lucy, Jacinta and Francisco, had gone to Mass and as they were returning home they passed a place called Cova da Iria they were surprised by an apparition of Our Lady. She told the children that she would return here for six months in succession, on the 13th day, at this same hour.
S
he returned again on: Wednesday June 13 1917 with the Immaculate Heart of Mary Pierced with thorns: --- Friday July 13 1917 with the Announcement of the Great Miracle and the Secret: --- Monday August 13 1917 Certainly Our Lady has Come; --- Sunday August 19 1917 The Apparition at Valinhos; --- Thursday September 13 1917 A Marvelous Apparition;--- Saturday October 13 1917 I am Our Lady of the Rosary. The beatification of Jacinta and Francisco
was conducted on May 13, 2000 when Pope John Paul II visited the Shrine for the Special Celebration in Fátima.
Shrine at Fátima
On one of our visits to Portugal, in October, they were conducting the services at Fátima. We were not there but I was watching the ceremony on Portuguese TV (RTP). I was very impressed by the ceremony and it moved me deeply. For hours I watched the thousands of people at the shrine pay their homage to the Holy Mother. These were people who came to Fátima not only from Portugal but also from all over this world. What moved me the most was the expression that I saw on the peoples faces as the camera scanned the crowd. It was a picture of perfect serenity. The every day problems of the world were washed away and you could reflect on the true beauty that you saw in the crowds faces.
This even becomes more meaningful in today's world where we talk only about evil and innocent people are slaughtered by the thousands.
Crowds leaving after Mass on 13 Oct 2004
The, Video Guia, who is a production company in Portugal that has produced the very successful video on Fatima, in broadcast quality.
The video and book are produced with the collaboration of the Sanctuary
of Fatima and is their official film and book.
A unique documentary who shows the story of
Fatima from the apparitions to the present day. The film includes rare
old footage and historical photos of Lucia, Jancinta and Francisco. A guided
visit to the historical monuments in Fatima and the beatification of Jacinta and
Francisco by pope John Paul II on the 13 of May 2000 in Fatima.
The video is produced in English. Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian
and German.
As well we have a book on Fatima as a supplement to the video which
shows the historical background and serves as a tourist guide in Fatima. The
book is available in same languages as the video.
Visit their web-page and, take a video-tour
For more information or sales please e-mail contact j.fialho@video-tour.comF
or more information on Fátima such as resources, perpetual rosary, prayer and gregorian chants, and more importantly to hear "The message of Fátima " visit the Fátima Network at the Our Lady of Fatima Online
The Fátima site has a beautiful Virtual Pilgrimage
to Fátima on-line, I highly recommend that you take the time to view it.
T
o Visit the Fátima petitions homepage Our Lady of Fatima Petitions Homepage
A number of people have asked me, how do you get to Fátima from Lisbon. Well the first time we took the all day charter bus trip all the other times we had a car so we just drove.
If you want to experience a very good meal while you are at Fátima you must dine at Restaurante Tia Alice Rua do Adro Tel: 249 531 737.
Another way that you may consider is Executive Limousine Services & Excursions. They provide transfers to and from the airport, TOURS all over Portugal, daily tours in Lisbon and surrounding localities. They have Mercedes Vans and Buses and are fluent in English, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. You may call Peter Feijão at Tel: 011 351 21 4531001 or E-mail him for more information.
If you want to take a regular bus from Lisbon to Fátima here are the instructions;
How to get to Fátima from Lisbon
The bus leaves from Arco Do Cego
Scheduled times are; 8:00 h 9:15 h 10:30 h 13:00 h 14:30 h 15:00 h 16:30 h 18:30 h
The trip takes around one hour and a half
The price of the ticket is Esc. 1200$00 approximately USD $6.50
TRAIN LINK to FÁTIMA has just been made easier. A new bus shuttle is now operating between the Caxarias train station and the Fátima making access by train easier for visitors. The station receives seven trains daily.
Portuguese Railway Information
Return to Fátima and Óbidos
I
t has been three years since we had been to Fátima. I also thought that it would be nice to return to Óbidos, a town that had impressed us both on our first trip. We had been planning to return on every subsequent trip. On our first trip we had prayed for Grandchildren. Now we planned to return and give thanks and naturally pray for children for our youngest daughter.Well never underestimate the power of pray.
Update Triples were born at 1721 EDT September 11 1998 the children and mother are doing very well - two girls and one boy).
For these three miracles, we would like to thank Our Lady and Her Son. The people who carried the petitions to Fátima and all the people in America, Ireland, Malaysia, Poland and Portugal who prayed with and for us. The triplets are now over five years old - thank you again Our Lady.
The Triplets
The triplets celebrated their fifth birthday and are all in good health - Thank You.
W
e were staying in Sintra when we made this trip to Fátima. Portugal's improving road system made it fairly easy to make the journey. I took IC19 to A9 to A1 and then got off A1 at the sign pointing to Fátima. A9 is another one of those new super highways that seem to be springing up all over Portugal.
Rent and Drive yourself to Fátima
A
s we entered the town of Fátima, I noticed what looked like a new statute show the three children of Fátima. It is really a beautiful statute.
Statue of the Three Children at Fátima
T
hen I continued on to the shrine. Arriving at the shine I was amazed at the size of the facility and also at the number of parking lots that were available.T
he Basilica of Fátima stands at the end of an immense esplanade. This neoclassical church can hold 300,000 inside. Inside, two of the three children are buried here.
Basilica at Fátima
See our The beatification of Jacinta and Francisco
O
utside, the square in front is larger than the one prefacing Rome's Saint Peter's Cathedral. I took this photo from the Basilica looking down on the esplanade. It is hard to realize that I stood on this same spot over forty years ago. I even have some old black and whites photos that I took on that visit.
The Esplanade at Fátima
T
hen it was on to Óbidos. I drove over toward Batalha and then followed IC1 down to Óbidos. Óbidos is a town so quaint that it hardly seems real. As we approached, I noticed that town on the horizon. There it was perched on a hill - a walled town off in the distance. Now came the challenge. How do I get into the town. Since our first trip here was on a tour bus, I didn't have that problem before.I
noticed a sign pointing to the Pousada. Since I have heard a lot about the beautiful Pousada Castelo, I decided to follow the sign. This brought me to a hole in the wall that appeared to be one of the entrances to the town. The tour bus, on our previous trip, parked in the parking lot outside the main town entrance.
Back enterance to Óbidos
A
fter a little measuring, I drove through the entrance and saw the Pousada ahead of me. The 16th Century Castle serves as one of Portugal's most popular Pousadas. It has a limited number of rooms, but anyone can walk inside for a look. If you're thinking of staying at this Pousada, you will have to book months in advance.
Pousada Castelo at Óbidos
I
continued on and found myself in the town of Óbidos. As a word of caution, the village is small and the narrow climbing streets should not be attempted by car. If you enter the town the right way park beside the main gate. I heard my tires grown in agony as I proceeded slowly down many of the narrow hilly streets.
Street in Óbidos
T
he town is populated with little whitewashed houses, roofed in orange tiles, with flowers on windowsill's and beside doorways. It also contains some wonderful shops.
Another Street in Óbidos
You may also obtain information from Manor Houses of Portugal by completing the form on any page of their site.
Children of Fátima
Creation Date: 04 Dec 1995
Last Updated: 17 May 2005
Copyright © 1995-2005 Thomas J. Sullivan MA
Enhanced for Microsoft Explorer 5.0
Go to the Paris GeoCities
