It is located in Cova de Iria, Serra de Aire, city of Fátima, central Portugal
The Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Rosário called "Basilica do Rosária" is a basilica that is part of the Sanctuary of Fátima located in the place of Cova da Iria, in Fátima.
The Rosary Basilica began to be built in 1928 in neo-baroque style according to a project by the Dutch architect Gerardus Samuel van Krieken, and stands on the spot where the Little Shepherds were playing making a small stone wall when they saw the flash that made them think it was a thunderstorm on May 13, 1917.
The first stone was blessed by the Archbishop of Évora, D.Manuel da Conceição Santos, in 1928, with the consecration taking place on October 7, 1953 and it was granted the title of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII (1954).
The building measures 70.5 meters long and 37 meters wide, and was built entirely with stone from the region (place of Moimento) and the altars are made of marble from Estremoz, Pero Pinheiro and Fátima.
A large tribune was installed in front of the Rosary Basilica, with an altar, presidency, ambo and benches for the concelebrants.
The bell tower is 65 m high and is topped by a 7000 kg bronze crown, built in the Bolhão foundry, Porto, and topped by a cross illuminated at night.
The carillon is made up of 62 bells, cast and tempered in Fátima by Manuel Gonçalves, the largest bell weighs 3,000 kg and the clapper weighs 90, the clock is the work of Bento Rodrigues, from Braga, the angels on the marble facade are by Albano França.
On May 13, 195, a large statue of the “Immaculate Heart of Mary” was inaugurated, sculpted by Father Thomas McGlynn under the recommendation of Sister Lúcia.
This statue is 4.73 m high and weighs 13 tons. This image offered by American Catholics evokes the content of the message regarding devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to which Our Lady alluded in the first three apparitions of Cova da Iria and in the apparitions of Pontevedra: the devotion of the five first Saturdays, the consecration of Russia and the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.
At the entrance to the Basilica, above the main door is a mosaic that represents the Holy Trinity crowning Our Lady, and was created in the Vatican workshops and blessed there by the then Secretary of State, Cardinal Eugénio Pacelli, future Pope Pius XII.
The 15th mystery, a stone bas-relief, in the apse of the chancel represents the Holy Trinity crowning Our Lady, and was designed by Maximiano Alves.
At the entrance to the Basilica, on the right side, there is an image of St. John Eudes, founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists) and the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge (also by Martinho de Brito).
On the left side, there is the statue of Saint Stephen, the first king of Hungary crowned in the year 1000, who consecrated his nation to Our Lady, designed by António do Amaral de Paiva.
The tombs of the brothers Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto are located respectively at the right and left end of the transept.
The temple has two sacristies, one of which was converted into a place of worship, called Capela de São José.
The 14 side altars represent a mystery of the Rosary, the golden bas-reliefs placed there were designed by the then Young Sculptor Martinho de Brito.
The coronation of Our Lady of Fátima on May 13, 1946, and the end of the Holy Year (October 13, 1951) are commemorated on two tombstones, at the entrance to the main chapel.
The crossing arch has, all around it, a mosaic that reads Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii Fatimae ora pro nobis.
On the right side of the main chapel is the statue of São Domingos de Gusmão, the great apostle of the rosary in the 13th century (by Maria Amélia Carvalheira da Silva). On the left side, Saint Anthony Maria Claret, founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Heart of Mary (by Martinho de Brito).
Behind the balustrade is an image of Our Lady of Fátima.
In the center, a large stone altar with a silver front representing the Last Supper of Christ, the ambo, the pedestal for the image of Our Lady and the chairs of the presidency are made from the same stone as the altar.
The painting of the altarpiece represents the Message of Our Lady that descends in the form of light and peace to meet the visionaries prepared by the Angel, designed by the architect João de Sousa Araújo, in the upper right corner there are Popes Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI and on the opposite side 3 angels-
The stained glass windows in the main chapel represent the four evangelists, the appearance of the Angel, a scene from the life of the shepherd children, and aspects of Cova da Iria on a pilgrimage day, and were designed by Architect João de Sousa Araújo.
The Rosary Basilica began to be built in 1928 in neo-baroque style according to a project by the Dutch architect Gerardus Samuel van Krieken, and stands on the spot where the Little Shepherds were playing making a small stone wall when they saw the flash that made them think it was a thunderstorm on May 13, 1917.
The first stone was blessed by the Archbishop of Évora, D.Manuel da Conceição Santos, in 1928, with the consecration taking place on October 7, 1953 and it was granted the title of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII (1954).
The building measures 70.5 meters long and 37 meters wide, and was built entirely with stone from the region (place of Moimento) and the altars are made of marble from Estremoz, Pero Pinheiro and Fátima.
A large tribune was installed in front of the Rosary Basilica, with an altar, presidency, ambo and benches for the concelebrants.
The bell tower is 65 m high and is topped by a 7000 kg bronze crown, built in the Bolhão foundry, Porto, and topped by a cross illuminated at night.
The carillon is made up of 62 bells, cast and tempered in Fátima by Manuel Gonçalves, the largest bell weighs 3,000 kg and the clapper weighs 90, the clock is the work of Bento Rodrigues, from Braga, the angels on the marble facade are by Albano França.
On May 13, 195, a large statue of the “Immaculate Heart of Mary” was inaugurated, sculpted by Father Thomas McGlynn under the recommendation of Sister Lúcia.
This statue is 4.73 m high and weighs 13 tons. This image offered by American Catholics evokes the content of the message regarding devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to which Our Lady alluded in the first three apparitions of Cova da Iria and in the apparitions of Pontevedra: the devotion of the five first Saturdays, the consecration of Russia and the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.
At the entrance to the Basilica, above the main door is a mosaic that represents the Holy Trinity crowning Our Lady, and was created in the Vatican workshops and blessed there by the then Secretary of State, Cardinal Eugénio Pacelli, future Pope Pius XII.
The 15th mystery, a stone bas-relief, in the apse of the chancel represents the Holy Trinity crowning Our Lady, and was designed by Maximiano Alves.
At the entrance to the Basilica, on the right side, there is an image of St. John Eudes, founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists) and the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge (also by Martinho de Brito).
On the left side, there is the statue of Saint Stephen, the first king of Hungary crowned in the year 1000, who consecrated his nation to Our Lady, designed by António do Amaral de Paiva.
The tombs of the brothers Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto are located respectively at the right and left end of the transept.
The temple has two sacristies, one of which was converted into a place of worship, called Capela de São José.
The 14 side altars represent a mystery of the Rosary, the golden bas-reliefs placed there were designed by the then Young Sculptor Martinho de Brito.
The coronation of Our Lady of Fátima on May 13, 1946, and the end of the Holy Year (October 13, 1951) are commemorated on two tombstones, at the entrance to the main chapel.
The crossing arch has, all around it, a mosaic that reads Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii Fatimae ora pro nobis.
On the right side of the main chapel is the statue of São Domingos de Gusmão, the great apostle of the rosary in the 13th century (by Maria Amélia Carvalheira da Silva). On the left side, Saint Anthony Maria Claret, founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Heart of Mary (by Martinho de Brito).
Behind the balustrade is an image of Our Lady of Fátima.
In the center, a large stone altar with a silver front representing the Last Supper of Christ, the ambo, the pedestal for the image of Our Lady and the chairs of the presidency are made from the same stone as the altar.
The painting of the altarpiece represents the Message of Our Lady that descends in the form of light and peace to meet the visionaries prepared by the Angel, designed by the architect João de Sousa Araújo, in the upper right corner there are Popes Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI and on the opposite side 3 angels-
The stained glass windows in the main chapel represent the four evangelists, the appearance of the Angel, a scene from the life of the shepherd children, and aspects of Cova da Iria on a pilgrimage day, and were designed by Architect João de Sousa Araújo.
