Fátima is a Portuguese city, seat of parish, subdivision of the municipality of Ourém, with 71.29 km ² of area and 11 596 inhabitants (2011). Density: 162.7 inhab / km². It belongs to the District of Santarém, in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and sub-region of the Middle Tagus. Its worldwide fame is due to the fact that on May 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to the little shepherds in the form of Our Lady of Fatima.

At the ecclesiastical level, the city is simultaneously the seat of diocese with the city of Leiria. The name was modified by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1984. The only existing parish in the city has as an oracle Our Lady of Pleasures. The parish of Serra, as it was originally known had been dismembered from the Collegiate Church of Ourém in the year 1568.

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In 1917, three shepherd children - Lúcia de Jesus, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto - witnessed a supposed series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Surrounded initially by disbelief on the part of the population and the Catholic church itself, natural phenomena occurred during one of the events made many change their minds.

Today the small town of Fatima, Portugal's most important Catholic shrine, attracts about 4 million pilgrims annually. Much of this great popularity came from the strength of the Marian cult, rejuvenated in the 20th century, and also from its adoration by Pope John Paul II. The holy Polish priest, guardian of the three mysteries revealed by the Virgin to the children, visited Fatima three times and beatified two of the children - brothers Francisco and Jacinta - on May 13, 2000, the anniversary of the first apparition. Lúcia, cousin of the other two shepherds and passed away in 2005, had its beatification process begun in 2008.

The main pilgrimage center of the city is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, consecrated in 1953. Through its wide main square thousands of faithful arrive, many walking the final path on their knees or prostrate. Many perform night vigils, praying the rosary by candlelight, commemorative dates, and remembering the dates of the apparitions. The 13th, and especially those of May and October, usually fill the city with people.

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In any restaurant in Fatima you will find typical dishes of the area, the most famous being the Leitão da Bairrada, a dish not to be missed. You can find this dish at most restaurants in Northern Portugal.

The sausages are also part of our daily life but Portuguese tables. We have the most varied types of pork sausages like sausage, sausage, paio, and the best thing is to eat a sausage with a slice of bread.

The breakfast as could not be missed is a coffee and a sandwich. At lunch we have to eat well and if we are among friends lunch can last for several hours. In most restaurants the kitchen is open between 1 pm and 4 pm for lunch and dinner is served from 8 pm. Usually in these restaurants the menu usually has 2 dishes: a soup and second dish something more consistent.

The most typical desserts of Fatima are the sweet rice as a characteristic Canela flavor, the flan pudding with caramel and for those who like very sweet flavors we recommend the Toucinho do Céu.

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Fátima is located in the heart of the Serra de Aire, at just over 300 meters of altitude. As such, it is at the confluence of three geographically and administratively different zones: Ribatejo, Estremadura and, Beira Litoral. It can be said that, although integrated in the municipality of Ourém, (district of Santarém) already belongs to Beira Litoral, because it is located in the extreme northwest of the district.

It is soon in the transition zone between the Mediterranean climate with maritime influence (csb), typical of the west coast and the inland Mediterranean climate (csa) typical of the interior. Thus, the climate of the city of Fatima is characterized by hot, dry and very sunny summers, with temperatures varying between approximately 30ºC and 15ºC and winters cool, humid and with temperatures that normally vary between 15ºC and 5ºC .

Snowfall can occasionally occur on colder winters, yet with some difficulty. The last time it snowed in the area, was February 27, 2013, although there were no disturbances. Even this century, also snowed on January 10, 2010 (with little intensity), and on January 29, 2006, which led to the cut of the main motorway (A1) between Santarém and Leiria.

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