Fatima Pilgrimage – Miracle of the Sun

The Fatima Pilgrimage is one of the most significant Roman Catholic events in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to a sanctuary in central Portugal.
It commemorates a series of visions of the Virgin Mary reported by three local shepherd children in 1917. These visions culminated with the "Miracle of the Sun," where over 70,000 witnesses claimed they saw the sun spin and change colors.
While the sanctuary is a year-round place of devotion, the most profound gatherings occur on the 13th of each month from May to October.

The spiritual highlight of the experience is the Candlelight Procession on the night of the 12th, where the square is illuminated by a sea of flickering flames as the statue of Our Lady is carried through the silent, praying crowd. On the morning of the 13th, the International Mass and the moving "Adeus" (Farewell) Procession take place, characterized by thousands of pilgrims waving white handkerchiefs in a symbolic goodbye.
Beyond the official ceremonies, visitors can witness the profound devotion of pilgrims crossing the vast precinct on their knees, visit the tombs of the visionaries inside the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, and experience the modern architecture of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity.