The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima annually draws an estimated 4 million tourists. The shrine is constructed in the site of an alleged appearance by Mary the Virgin Mother of God to three Portuguese children in 1917. The shrine's primary building is the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima, a church standing 215 feet high and first constructed in 1928.
The Paul VI Pastoral Center is housed within the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima's sanctuary area. According to Virtual Portugal's website, the center was inaugurated on May 13, 1982, by Pope John Paul II. The center was established with the purpose as an area for reflection and prayer on the problems of the modern world.
Just west of Fatima is the town of Batalha, which houses the gothic-style Monastery of the Dominicans of Batalha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1385. Many visitors to Batalha choose to stay in Fatima where there are more hotels and restaurants.
