In 1917 the Virgin Mary appeared before three Portuguese children in the area of Fatima, Portugal and was thus renamed Our Lady of Fatima. The church took advantage of this fact (or fiction) and so did the locals. There are now several churches, loads of statues and streets full of gift shops selling everything and anything religious.
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The Virgin comes to Portugal
In 1917 the Virgin Mary appeared before three Portuguese children in the area of Fatima, Portugal and was thus renamed Our Lady of Fatima. The church took advantage of this fact (or fiction) and so did the locals. There are now several churches, loads of statues and streets full of gift shops selling everything and anything religious.