— In order to accommodate the large number of pilgrims who visit the Sanctuary of Fátima, Portugal, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity was built across from the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was obvious that on Sundays and most special holidays, the main basilica was not enough to hold any events. An international contest was organized to pick an architect to design the new basilica. The Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis was the winner, and construction of the new building started on June 6, 2004. Roughly three years later, on October 12, 2007, the new basilica was dedicated.
Contrary to the Neo-Baroque style of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity is austere, modern, and circular, with a seating capacity of over 8,000 seats. Besides its religious significance, the basilica has received international awards, including the 2009 Outstanding Structure Award by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering.
The altar is visible very well from any seat thanks to a gentle slope in the building design. Inside the whole structure there are several chapels and confessionals. In fact, during our first afternoon in Fátima, we attended a mass in one of those chapels, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Capela do Sagrado Coração de Jesus).
On the façade entrance of the building (first photo), one can see panels with the Mysteries of the Rosary on both door sides. Inside, the altar has a large crucifix and a large panel with a scene from the Apocalypse (see below). Outside, upon leaving the basilica, one has a majestic view of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary across the plaza (bottom photo).
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