Shopping and Dining Experience at Centro Commercial Fatima, Portugal

We stopped by Centro Commercial Fatima for lunch in Fatima, it seems there are many tour bus stopped here. Not sure why maybe the tour bus was being paid some commission to bring the tourists to dine and shop here. As you can see the building is catered for big groups and free parking lots are available at the front of the building.

In case you do not know where is Fatima, it is a small town in Portugal. An important pilgrim center for Catholics around the world. Hence you will notice the whole town was revolved around the religion history. The restaurant too is decorated with paintings of Catholic-related stuff and the three young shepherd.

Centro Commercial Fatima is a huge complex with shopping for religious souvenirs on the first floor and the restaurant on the second floor.

The restaurant is called Restaurante o Sino.  It more like a canteen style of restaurant, nothing too fancy.

Well, the restaurant is self serve.  You choose what you want from the smorgasbord and pay.  The food was not very interesting but since we are in a hurry we just grab something to fill us up.

Salad Corner

A large bowl of salad cost Euro 4.00 and small bowl cost Euro 2.20.

Dessert Corner

We ordered roasted chicken &  rice with cow internal organ.  I was quite shocked to learn that Portuguese eat cow lungs (maybe is a lung) too. This set cost us Euro 7.50

Codfish with Rice cost a little more, is Euro 11.00

Quinoa soup with chicken cost Euro 2.20.

Azulejo – The Blue and White Tiles

The washrooms area are very clean and decorated with the iconic Portuguese blue and white tiles,  they called it Azulejo.

I find them very pretty and can be found almost everywhere in Portugal and Spain. The blue and white version is more of the icon for Portugal. They were not only used as an ornamental art form but also had a specific functional capacity like temperature control in homes (exterior decoration).

Azulejo is something you will encounter when you are in Portugal and Spain. You can spot the azulejo in churches, monasteries, restaurant, bars, railway, and even regular homes for interior decoration.

Shopping Card

We were given a shopping card from our guide and we were told there will be some discount if we purchase the souvenirs from the shopping center downstairs.

The shopping store is a large and great place to buy religious souvenirs. Some of the religious items to take back from Fatima are a magnet, key holders and mini to a bigger statue for praying. They made some of the statues here and there is a huge range to choose from. If you need something from this holy place, Centro Commercial Fatima is a better option to stop by. Outside souvenirs store is so much smaller compared to this one here. This is just like a factory store.

Locally Made

Pictures showing some of the statues for praying are locally made here.

Final thoughts:

Centro Commercial Fatima is a good stop for tourists who would like to dine and shop for religious souvenirs.  The shopping on the first floor is huge and many of the religious statues from small to big are made locally.