After a foggy start to the day we drove 60Km to this town, where 3 children are reported to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary in the spring and autumn of 1916.
A religious fervour has built up over the intervening years supported by Pope Paul V1 who visited on 13th May 1967. If you are into religious regalia then this is the place to visit. It seems the whole town is surviving on selling the story. You can buy a porcelain figure of Jesus costing a thousand Euros, to a ribbon costing two Euros to hang around your neck informing people that you have visited. No doubt the Pope will get his commission?
There is a Church here, quite a modest building when you consider the commercial activity surrounding this place. It is in stark contrast the the vastness and spender of the Basilica below. it seems that the cost of dying is preferred to the cost of living.
Not sure when the Basilica was built but certainly in recent times, It would be interesting to know the cost, the three children who related their experience might be surprised to see the result of their vision.
It seems that the populous spend an enormous amount of their time and income preparing to die and the lavish grave yards is the icing on the cake.
