8 Best Sights in Estremadura and the Ribatejo, Portugal

One of the largest Catholic churches in the world, seating some 8,500 worshipers, the Holy Trinity was consecrated in 2007 and raised to the state of basilica in 2012. Although it won prizes for engineering rather than architecture, its ample, curved form—designed by Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis—offers a pleasing contrast to its rather run-of-the-mill 1920s predecessor. Much of the iconography, including on the lavish main doors, was inspired by Byzantine and Orthodox motifs, and was produced by artists from Portugal and seven other countries. The Tall Cross crucifix outside the church is by the German artist Robert Schad.

At the head of the shrine's huge esplanade is the towering neoclassical basilica built in the late 1920s, flanked on either side by a semicircular peristyle. Inside you will find the tombs of all three of the "little shepherds" who saw the Virgin Mary.

This tiny chapel—now ringed by benches and covered by a much larger modern canopy—was built in 1920 on the site where the appearances of the Virgin Mary are said to have taken place. A plinth with a statue of the Virgin marks the exact spot. Gifts, mostly wax reproductions of body parts, are burned nearby as offerings to the Virgin in the hope of achieving a miraculous cure.

These are the cottages, in the nearby hamlet of Aljustrel, where the three shepherd children who saw the Virgin Mary were born. To reach them, from Fátima's Rotunda Sul (south roundabout) take the N360 to Aljustrel for just over 1 km (½ mile) and turn right onto Rua de Aljustrel (signposted "Museu"). At the next major junction, the two houses of the little shepherds are along the street to the left, along with the Casa-Museu de Aljustrel (closed Monday), a small museum that aims to give visitors some idea of what life was like in those times. It also displays some the children's own personal items.

The hills to the south and west of Fátima are honeycombed with limestone caves. Legend has it that many years ago, a wealthy man carrying a bag of coins was traveling through the woods when he was attacked by a gang of thieves. Struggling from the attack, the man fell into one of the grottoes. Through the cave, the lost coins were spread around, thus giving the Grutas da Moeda, 3 km (2 miles) from Fátima, their name. Within about a 25-km (15-mile) radius of the town are four other major caverns—São Mamede, Alvados, Santo António, and Mira de Aire, the country's largest—equipped with lights and elevators. On a guided tour in any of these (for a minimum of two people; ask for an English-speaking guide) you can see the subterranean world of limestone formations, underground rivers and lakes, and multicolor stalagmites and stalactites. It's a 10-minute drive from the shrine; there are also two shuttles a day from Fátima bus station, at 10:30 am and 3 pm, with return trips departing from the caves at 12 pm and at 4:30 pm.

In the center of town, the wax museum has 32 tableaux, with a total of 120 figures, depicting the events that took place in Fátima when the child shepherds first saw the apparitions in 1917, and other events.

The big draw at the shrine's official museum is the bejeweled, golden crown that contains the bullet extracted from the body of Pope John Paul II after the 1981 assassination attempt on his life. The image of Our Lady of Fatima wears this crown on days of large pilgrimages or special occasions. The museum also displays offerings made by pilgrims and Church dignitaries, such as the Golden Rose from Pope Benedict XVI.

The high-tech Miracle of Fátima Interactive Museum re-creates the appearance of the Virgin Mary a century ago. Its use of multimedia technologies certainly helps generate a sense of wonder at the apparition of the Virgin and of the Angel of Portugal, and at what became known as the Miracle of the Sun. Guided visits last around 40 minutes, with free time afterward; it is recommended that you book ahead at busy times, as slots can be scarce. The museum is under a small shopping mall near the new basilica.