The region

The Fatima limestone is extracted around the town with the same name as the limestone: Fatima. It is located in the centre of Portugal, between Lisbon and Porto. In opposition to the other main portuguese limestones, Fatima is not located in Serra D´Aires e Candeeiros Natural Park, but few kilometers outside of its boundaries.

Fatima is very famous for the religious visions that took place there in 1917. Fátima's claim to fame is the shrine called the Basilica, built to commemorate the events of 1917 when three peasant children claimed to have seen the "Virgin of the Rosary", Our Lady of Fátima. When the children asked for her name, she said "I am The Lady of The Rosary". The children experienced the purported Marian apparitions in a pasture called the Cova da Iria.

Today, Fatima´s economy relies mostly on religious tourism. Fatima attracts hosts of believers from far and wide, particularly on the pilgrimage days, and the shrine has been developed on a correspondingly large scale. The town has a considerable number of shops and stalls selling all kinds of religious articles, and the streets of the town have plenty of hotels, hostels and restaurants. Fatima grew up to become one of the most important religous places in Portugal and possibly Europe and a reference place for pilgrimage.

The Fatima limestone is explored around the area of Fatima, by few companies with small to medium size. The quarries where the Fatima limestone is explored are considered of medium dimension, where the majority of blocks are extracted and prepared for commercialization in medium to large sizes. The Fatima extraction area is not included in the ring of limestones extraction area. Nonetheless, its extraction area is located in a very ´fertile´ land for natural stone extraction and the potential for development is considerable.

The Fatima limestone is a type of natural stone characterized by its whiteish and uniform background. It is also a medium limestone in terms of hardness. Because of these characteristics, the Fatima limestone is most commonly used in exterior and interior paving with moderate use, covering and cladding. It is also found in masonry, stonework and furniture, where we can find the most beautiful applications.

In opposition to the other main portuguese limestones, the Fatima limestone extraction area is not included in the Serra D´Aires e Candeeiros Natural Park. This situation does not create the same kind of constraints in terms of extraction expansion and development. These are good news for the future of this limestone that has seen in the past few years an increase in production and demand on the international market.

The Fatima limestone is possibly one of the portuguese limestones with more potential for future growth and development.