Valinhos Guide
A Place of Apparitions: Reflect and Pray at Valinhos, Fátima Guide
Valinhos is a small hamlet near Fátima, Portugal, significant as the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to the shepherd children, Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta, on August 19, 1917, while they were absent from Cova da Iria. This event is a crucial part of the Fátima story and makes Valinhos a place of pilgrimage and prayer. It offers a more secluded and contemplative atmosphere compared to the main Sanctuary of Fátima. The apparitions at Valinhos occurred because the children were prevented from reaching Cova da Iria on August 13th due to anti-religious sentiment. The Virgin Mary appeared to them six days later in Valinhos, reaffirming her message of prayer, penance, and conversion. The site is marked by a monument commemorating the apparition and is a place of quiet reflection for pilgrims. Visitors to Valinhos can walk the path that the shepherd children took, visit the monument marking the apparition site, and pray in the small chapel. The area is surrounded by natural beauty, offering a peaceful environment for contemplation. Many pilgrims choose to walk from the Sanctuary of Fátima to Valinhos as a form of penance and prayer.
Transportation
Bus: Local buses connect Fátima to Valinhos. Alternatively, it's a walkable distance (approximately 2-3 kilometers) from the Sanctuary of Fátima.