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Fatima during October 12th Festival Week

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We are spending six days in Lisbon starting Ocotoberr 12th. This is on our way to a two week tour of Sicily and southern Italy we booked a year ago.

Had planned on visiting Fatima and Tomar on day trip from Lisbon. Renting a car or joining a tour company. We speak Brazilian Portuguese so would be comfortable getting around.

Just discoverd that week is the big festival/pilgramage week especially on October 12 and 13. If we go on the 14th or 15th will there still be extra large crowds? is parking an issue on those days? Congestion in general?

Thank you, Glenn

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My guess is that there will still be larger than normal crowds in Fátima. Lines to get into the sanctuary may be long. If you had a rental car getting to the Angel of Peace locations, where Mary appeared, and to see the childrens houses will be easier, but parking at those locations is limited.

There are a number of free parking lots if only going to the plaza and sanctuary. On Google maps, look for parking lots 12 (Av. João XXIII, Cova da Iria), 13 ( Av. de Dom José Alves Correia da Silva 96), and 14 (Parque 14 [Campo do Estoril]). I know those are free and the walk to the sanctuary is only 5-10 minutes. There are others.

Tomar is only a 30 minutes or so drive from Fátima. Assuming the purpose of visiting is to see the castle and Convent of Christ, plan non spending no less than three hours. There is a pay parking lot at the convent. In town there are a few free lots; Rua Santa Iria Parking and Parking Palhava are right in town. From either it’s about a 20 minutes walk to the convent. There’s also parking by the train station.

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