Convento de Cristo in Tomar is a medieval castle that was constructed in 1160 and served as the headquarters for the secretive knights templar. Today, it is preserved as a museum and has been listed as a World Heritage site since 1983. The castle is situated on top of a hill and boasts a variety of features, including cloisters, a church, living quarters, and gardens. The architecture is a unique mix of Gothic, Romanesque, Manueline, and Renaissance styles
(Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, the biggest pilgrimage site (gotoportugal.eu)):
This article recounts the history of Our Lady of Fatima. On May 13th, 1917, Lucia and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco, aged 12, 9, and 7 years old, were tending to their sheep at Cova da Iria in Fatima when they saw a bright light. At first, they thought it was lightning, but soon after, an even brighter light illuminated the area. They then saw a lady shining more brightly than the sun standing next to a small oak tree. This lady asked the three little shepherds to come to Cova da Iria on the 13th day of each month at the same time for six months, promising to reveal her identity and the purpose of her presence. During the apparitions, this lady foretold several revelations, such as the end of the First World War and that Francisco and Jacinta would soon go to heaven. (Francisco passed away in 1919, and Jacinta in 1920, both victims of the Spanish flu.) As the months went by, an increasing number of people came to witness the apparitions. By the time of the second apparition, around 50 people were present, but during the sixth apparition on October 13th, around 50,000 people gathered to witness the miracle promised by the lady. It was then that the three children came to know that this lady was Our Lady of the Rosary
Below official site provides details of each Apparitions: Shrine of Fatima | Narrative of the Apparitions
The story revolves around three children: Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, who reportedly experienced a Marian apparition in 1917 at Fatima. This vision of the Virgin Mary has been recognized by the Catholic Church since 1930, and Pope John Paul II attributed his survival in the face of an assassination attempt on the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima in 1981 to the original miracle
On August 14, 1385, near the site where the Monastery stands today, D. Joao, Master of Avis and the future King of Portugal, emerged victorious in the battle of Aljubarrota against the Castilian armies. This victory ended the crisis that had plagued Portugal since 1383, and D. Joao dedicated the monastery to the Virgin Mary. This marked the beginning of a construction process that lasted almost two centuries, resulting in one of the most fascinating Gothic monuments. This Dominican convent was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983
We arrived in Nazare in the evening and hurried to the Nazare Lighthouse to catch the sunset and waves. Since our car was parked a little ways away from the lighthouse, we took the opportunity to walk along the beach and trail to reach our destination
