The history of Fatima is largely a religious history, as the area was virtually unknown to the rest of the world until the beginning of the twentieth century when sightings of the Virgin Mary appearing there began to be reported.  This history is linked specifically with the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three poverty-stricken children living in the area in the first few decades of the twentieth century.

The children reported that the Virgin Mary appeared to them and revealed her secrets to them.  These secrets included premonitions about World War II and the Cold War.  It is said that she also revealed another secret to the children, one which church officials reportedly know about, but that this secret has not been revealed to the world at large.

As a result of these sightings, the area became famous, and, after World War II had ended, numerous travelers (known in the area as pilgrims) who were all hoping to experience a Virgin Mary sighting began to travel to the area.  In turn, travelers who were merely interested in seeing the pilgrims began to travel to the area at the same time.

Additional information about this history is available online at http://www.fatima-direct.com/ and http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_touris... .