For pilgrims and others visiting Our Lady of Fatima Shrine over Christmas and the holiday season, the Department of Art and Patrimony of the Shrine of Fatima (DAP) has organized a new exhibition with its theme focusing on the concept of “Light“.

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine

Between 6th December 2009 and February 2010, those on a pilgrimage to Fatima will be able to see some of the most valuable candles donated to Our Lady of Fatima. The candles will be on display in the entrance hall of ‘Convivium de Santo Agostinho’, in the complex of Most Holy Trinity Church.

According to the DAP, the theme of the exhibition is a reminder of what St. John wrote in the Prologue to his Gospel “the Word was the true Light”.

Through the figures engraved in them, these candles are perpetual symbols of Christ Light of the World and solemn testimonies of His light.

See Shrine of Fatima Photos HERE
Read more about the Santuary of Fatima and the Secret
Read more about the Most Holy Trinity Church

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In Oporto, there are cafés that attract customers to their establishments not because of the reputation of their coffee and cakes, but more because of the history of the place.  The Café Majestic is one such café.

Majestic by name and majestic by architecture, this café has become a obligatory stop by visiting dignitaries, media personalities, artists and everyone who’s anyone visiting Oporto, as well as the humble tourists.  The Majestic’s guest book lists all the personalities who have stopped to have coffee in this magnificent café .

And for Harry Potter fans, here’s a little trivia – J.K. Rowling, who lived in Oporto in the past, spent many days here writing her first Harry Potter book “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”.

Read more about Cafe Majestic HERE
Other iconic cafés in Oporto

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Hailed by many as the “most beautiful bookshop in the world” Lello Bookshop in Oporto has become a sightseeing attraction for overseas visitors and locals alike. When you step through the entrance of this bookshop you’ll be bowled over by the stunning architecture and rich interior decoration.

The facade of Lello Bookshop building is an excellent neo-gothic design and the building itself has been classified as a National Monument.

Lello’s amazing interior includes heavily decorated walls and ceilings with intricate wood carvings, and its amazing red swirling staircase which takes you to the second level. An impressive stained glass skylight bears Lello’s monogram and motto “Decus in Labore” or Dedication is in the Labor - and this bookshop is certainly a labour of love and dedication by the many people involved.

Read more about Lello Bookshop, Oporto’s most exquisite bookshop HERE.

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If you’re planning on any sightseeing holiday to Fatima, you may be interested that May 13 and October 13 are the busiest times in the Fátima calendar.  Vast numbers of pilgrims arrive on these dates to commemorate the appearances of the Virgin Mary to the three shepherd children.

May 13, 1917 was the date of the first apparition and on October 13th, the Secrets of Fatima were revealed to Lucia Santos.  The 13th day of June, July, August and September are also a time of devotion at Fatima as the shepherd children were instructed to return on the same day each month between May and October.

More about the Santuary of Fatima…

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August is seafood festival season in the Algarve and seafood lovers will have a feast of a time at the Portimão Sardine Festival and the Olhão Shellfish Festival.  Both these festivals now form part of the Algarve Gourmet program.

Portimão Sardine Festival (August 8 – 17)

Portimão is situated towards the western end of the Algarve coast, just before Lagos.  Held at the Portimao riverside, this festival has become become one of Portimão’s trademark events. Organized by the local council, the Sardine Festival is well attended by locals and tourists alike.

The grills are already fired up and the familiar aroma of fresh sardines grilling permeates the atmosphere – I’m hungry already! Apart from sardines there will be other Portuguese culinary delights, cooking demonstrations by gourmet chefs and plenty of good wine and beer.  And, as you enjoy your freshly grilled sardines with bread, there’s plenty of live music and concerts to entertain and handicraft stalls to fill up your shopping bags with.  A grand fireworks display closes the Festival on the last evening.

Olhão Shellfish Festival (August 11 – 16)

Olhão is just a little east of Faro and is the Algarve’s biggest fishing port.  The Shellfish Festival is held in the Jardim Pescador Olhanense, next to the avenue on the Ria waterfront. 50,000 visitors are expected to descend upon the 100 or so eateries offering every imaginable seafood delicacy, from octopus and squid to clams, prawns, mussels and the ubiquitous grilled sardines.  Ria Formosa is the least polluted area in Europe and promises that the best quality of shellfish will be served at the Olhão Festival.

There’ll be a broad range of popular folk music and live concerts geared to appeal to visitors of different age range and musical tastes.

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Small it may be, but Portugal is a country that’s packed with everything that holidaymakers from the northern hemisphere seek. With the advent of cheap flights and charter flights, this sun-drenched Mediterranean country is easy to get to, and the sunny, sandy beaches of The Algarve are a big drawcard for people who want to have a relaxing couple of weeks in the sun.   Portugal is also home to Fatima, one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world today,  and millions of Catholics from around the world visit each year.

It helps too that Portugal is among the cheapest places to visit in the euro-zone, especially if you avoid Lisbon and the fancier resorts. A cup of espresso coffee costs about €0.70 at the cafe counter, so that’s me won over and a Heineken beer costs about €1.10.  British sun-seekers who used to flock to Spain are finding Portugal a cheaper alternative. Then, there’s all that port and wine that Portugal produces … dare we ask for more!

There’s a lot to do in Portugal.  A country that’s both modern and steeped in tradition at the same time, there are festivities and events of all sorts throughout the year.   If you’d like to experience the medieval times, you could join the festivities at the castle of Castro Marim which plays host to kings and queens, knights in shining armour, jesters, buffoons, noblemen and ladies, as the entire Court re-lives history.  Alternatively, you may prefer to journey along two traditional wine routes in central Portugal, where the River Dão runs between mountains to coastal lagoons and sandy shores.

The Portuguese are of course sports crazy people and if you’re keen on soccer, motor racing, golf, or any other sports for that matter, you’ll make friends very easily here.  Would you believe that this small country has 70 golf courses!

In our posts below, we’ve included information on tour routes, what to eat, information on shopping and other useful facts.

Tour Routes in Portugal
Portuguese Cuisine – What to eat on your holidays
Shopping in Portugal
Useful facts

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Fatima is an intensely religious place, on par with Lourdes in France as a pilgrim’s destination.  This small town north of Lisbon has become one of the most visited holy site in the Christian faith.

Fatima became famous in 1917 when the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children of the town. Within years hundreds of thousands of believers were making pilgrimages to the town in honour of the Virgin and a magnificent cathedral was constructed.

Standing over 200-feet high the structure was consecrated in the 1950s by Pope Pius XII and now welcomes pilgrims and curious visitors. The May and October pilgrimages are the busiest time and the scene can be quite emotional as the faithful and penitents approach the shrine on their knees.

Helen

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Torre de Belem or Belem Tower sits at the mouth of the Tagus and guards the entrance to the city. It is another iconic monument on the Belem waterfront. The tower was built as a fortress in the middle of the Tagus in 1515-21 and it was from here that the caravels set out to discover the trade routes. 

When Manuel I came to power in 1495, he profited from the expansionary period and commissioned grandiose monuments to reflect the spirit of the time.  The tower became a symbol of Portugal’s great era of discoveries.  It was built along the Manueline style of architecture which is a Portuguese adaptation of late Gothic.  Torre de Belem and Mosteiro dos Jeronimos are believed to be the best examples of this architecture still in existence. The building now acts as home to a Museum that has many relics of the discoveries on display.

There are many museums, parks and gardens in the Belem area.  Along the attractive riverside setting can be found cafes and a promenade.

Helen

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The Padrao dos Descobrimentos, Monument to the Discoveries, was built in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator.  Commissioned by the Salazar regime, it stands prominently on the Belem waterfront.

The monument recognizes all the people who participated in the development of the Portuguese Age of Discovery.  The central figure behind Portuguese colonial expansion was Henry the Navigator.  He was a pioneer of modern exploration which led to the discovery of the New World.  On both sides of the Monument you’ll see stone statues of Portuguese heroes.  On the eastern face for instance, the top five figures are (1) Henry the Navigator standing at the brow with a caravel in hand (2) In a kneeling position is Afonso V, patron of the first explorers (3) Vasco da Gama (4) Pedro Alvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil and, (5) Magellan who crossed the Pacific in 1520. Other celebrated individuals include Henry’s mother Philippa of Lancaster, a poet, painter, famous navigators, cartographers and kings.

Regretably we didn’t have the opportunity to go inside, however there is a lift that takes you up to the sixth floor and then a flight of steps leads you to the top for a panoramic view of Belem. The basement level is used for exhibitions which may not be related to the Discoveries. 

Some locals don’t like the ostentatious monument, but from a tourist point of view, its iconic and it looks really dramatic against the blue skies and water.

Helen

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When considering holiday destinations where the dollar is still well respected, Portugal comes to mind.  Portugal has been in the news a lot recently, but for the wrong reasons.  As the world press chase their scandals and stories of the missing McCann child, not much else is mentioned on the country itself.

Although Portugal is one of the oldest nation states in Europe, its history is not widely studied or known. Many travellers these days go to Portugal for two unique reasons: some have a religious ambition to visit Fatima’s shrine whilst others come in search of sun, sand and sea and they head for the stunning beaches of Algarve for their holidays.

The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors have all ruled Portugal at some stage in its long history. With its layers of complex history, supreme maritime explorations and conquests and periods of domestic strife, there certainly is a lot to uncover and learn of this tiny country.  Starting from Lisbon, the Belem Tower, from where the great explorers set sail and Monument of Discoveries are great reminders of its glorious past.  Then there’s the magnificent palaces of Sintra, the varied architecture and amazing painted ceramic tiles that Portugal is famous for.

Portugal is a country steeped in ancient traditions and no matter where you go, there’s always festivals or religious celebrations that add colour to your holiday experience. Portuguese wine production has also improved in quality through the adoption of modern wine-making techniques so there’s more to Portuguese wine than Mateus Rose or ports.

Helen

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