Marta Pilar
The Chapel in Cova da Iria
This Chapel, which maintains the characteristics of a popular shrine, was the first building to be constructed in the Cova da Iria in 1918. It was built in the place indicated by the Virgin, giving way to its name. The Virgin had asked the shepherds to build a chapel in her honour and her image has been sculpted on a marble pillar that marks the exact spot where the little oak stood on which the Virgin appeared to the shepherds on the 13th day of May, June, July, September and October in 1917. The original shrine was anonymously blown up on March 6, 1922, but it was rebuilt that same year. The chapel has been covered by a large pine roof brought from a Russian port in the northern Soviet Union on September 12, 1988.
Over time the Sanctuary was extended to accommodate the large numbers of pilgrims and so The Colonnades and Plaza Pio XII were built to increase the capacity of people in a large open space. All information is from contact with the Basilica.
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