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Lisbon City Guide - $section
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Fatima
In 1917 the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared above an
oak tree and spoke to three peasant children in the valley of Cova
da Iria, 88 miles (142km) north of Lisbon. The children claimed to
have seen the apparition on five different occasions, and the spot
has now become one of the great pilgrimage shrines of the world,
known as Fatima. Between May and October the 13th day of every
month is pilgrimage day, when hundreds of the faithful gather in a
square twice the size of St Peter's in Rome before the Chapel of
the Apparitions. The original oak tree is gone, but has been
replaced by a simple white column inside a basilica, which is
flanked by statues of the saints.
Setubal
A popular touring destination 25 miles (40km) south of
Lisbon is Setubal, one of Portugal's oldest cities, renowned for
producing the most delicious muscadel wine in the world. The city
is also the centre of Portugal's sardine industry, and has been a
fish-salting centre since the 1st century. White mounds of sea salt
drying in the sun are a familiar part of the local landscape. There
are some outstanding beaches near the city and some pretty
countryside dotted with orange groves, orchards and
vineyards.
