Day Trip to Fatima from Lisbon
Oct 27th, 2014, 04:44 AM
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Day Trip to Fatima from Lisbon
Hi. We will be in Lisbon for 4 nights from 9 May 2015. We would like to visit Fatima (on a day trip) but have discovered one of the most important days in the religious calendar is 13 May so we presume it would be best to avoid that day due to large crowds. My question is, because of the significance of that day, would surrounding days also be very busy? I understand there is a reliable bus service from Lisbon. Thanks for your help.
Oct 27th, 2014, 05:18 AM
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The days surrounding that holiday will be a mad house.
This is only my opinion, because I have been there, but I would skip it.
Whatever you think, I found the entire experience to be very commercial with a little religion thrown in.
I was extremely disappointed.
But as I say, that is only one person's opinion.
As for your question: there will be mobs of people.
But we love Portugal.
This is only my opinion, because I have been there, but I would skip it.
Whatever you think, I found the entire experience to be very commercial with a little religion thrown in.
I was extremely disappointed.
But as I say, that is only one person's opinion.
As for your question: there will be mobs of people.
But we love Portugal.
Oct 27th, 2014, 06:37 AM
#4
There is more drama at Fatima than at a drag show at any gay bar in Atlantic City, NJ, circa 1993.
It is truly the most over-the-top place I have ever travelled to.
It is just plain WEIRD!
Do you really want to watch nut cases crawl on their hands and knees over cobblestones?
And you can do without the Jesus Crown-of-Thorns coatracks sold in the gift shops.
Thin
It is truly the most over-the-top place I have ever travelled to.
It is just plain WEIRD!
Do you really want to watch nut cases crawl on their hands and knees over cobblestones?
And you can do without the Jesus Crown-of-Thorns coatracks sold in the gift shops.
Thin
Oct 27th, 2014, 08:34 AM
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We were on a cruise a couple of years ago, docked in Lisbon, and our group wanted to visit Fatima from Lisbon. I plan all my own private tours so contacted a couple of tour guides about driving to Fatima. It is about 1.5 hour trip so would have been 3 hours round trip. I did much reading on the travel boards and everyone said the same thing, that it is so commercialized at Fatima and so crowded that they did not think it was worth the trip. We ended up not going. I can't image what the crowds will be like there if there is religious activity there. It is up to you to decide whether you want to make the trip.
Sintra is a lovely place to visit, we were there on another cruise docked in Lisbon. There are many other things to see in Portugual. If you do decide to go please post so we will know what your experience was like. Good luck!
Sintra is a lovely place to visit, we were there on another cruise docked in Lisbon. There are many other things to see in Portugual. If you do decide to go please post so we will know what your experience was like. Good luck!
Oct 28th, 2014, 04:51 AM
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I am Portuguese and raised in a deep catholic environment. However I share the same feelings about Fatima as expressed above. My favorite religious place is a fishermen's chapel in the Peniche Peninsula (Carvoeiro Cape) where I've never found one living soul.
In this chapel and many other places (e.g. Elvas) is possible to find ex-votos (latin for evocative drawings or descriptions of events seen as miracles by those who witnessed). Some are beautiful, and all of them are very naif. Spanning through centuries they give a good sociological insight about evolution of people's religiosity and beliefs.
In this chapel and many other places (e.g. Elvas) is possible to find ex-votos (latin for evocative drawings or descriptions of events seen as miracles by those who witnessed). Some are beautiful, and all of them are very naif. Spanning through centuries they give a good sociological insight about evolution of people's religiosity and beliefs.
Oct 28th, 2014, 11:48 AM
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<<Do you really want to watch nut cases crawl on their hands and knees over cobblestones?>>
Wouldn't endorse the "nut case" concept. Really devout rural nonnas were the rule when I went.
Did they remove the padded <strike>walk</strike>crawlway? When I went, there was a 30-meter long pathway of padded foam coated with plastic that the devout would crawl along.
And no, seeing that is not a reason to go.
Nor is the fane itself that great, compared to various cathedrals, churches and various other houses of worship in Western Europe. It's nice enough, but not worth the side trip.
Wouldn't endorse the "nut case" concept. Really devout rural nonnas were the rule when I went.
Did they remove the padded <strike>walk</strike>crawlway? When I went, there was a 30-meter long pathway of padded foam coated with plastic that the devout would crawl along.
And no, seeing that is not a reason to go.
Nor is the fane itself that great, compared to various cathedrals, churches and various other houses of worship in Western Europe. It's nice enough, but not worth the side trip.
