The second stop is in the north area of the Fatima Shrine, on John Paul II Street, near the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity.
A few meters away, on Jacinta Marto Street, you can visit the Wax Museum (www.mucefa.pt).
Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity is situated within the enclosure of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, on the opposite side of the Basilica. It was inaugurated in 2007 but had been planned since 1973. In fact since then there had been the need to build a new church because the Basilica wasn’t large enough to accommodate the great number of pilgrims who wanted to attend services within the Sanctuary, on days of average turnout.
In 1997, the Shrine organized an international contest whose final winner was the Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis, who planned the construction of the new church at the backend of the Prayer Area, next to Pius XII Square.
The placing of the first stone took place on June 6, 2004, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Several reasons contributed for choosing the name of Most Holy Trinity: the apparitions of the Angel of Peace, with his insistent invitation to adore God-Trinity; the words of John Paul II uttered in the Little Chapel of Apparitions, in May 1982, given thanks to the Most Holy Trinity; and the Jubilee of the Year 2000, also dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity.
The Church is a modern, round, white building, the color of the stone that covers it, a local stone known as “white of the sea”. This huge building is 125 m in diameter, with no intermediate support; it has a volume of 130,000 m3 and 8,633 seats and it can be divided into two areas by a moving partition. There are 76 seats for disabled people.
More information:
Fatima Shrine official page: www.fatima.pt.
