Parish Church of Our Lady of Fatima 📷 Malaga - Spain

The parish or church of Our Lady of Fatima is a 20th century building, and was canonically created in 1956, although it began its public activity in 1961.

The bishop at that time who gave the blessing for its creation was Ángel Herrera Oria.

It is located in the neighbourhood of La Trinidad and is situated on Avenida de Fátima, next to the Guadalmedina River.

Until its construction was completed, the activities took place in a small chapel in the Convent of San José, where the image of Our Lady of Fátima was venerated.

The story goes that, while the construction of the parish church was underway, several devotees of the Virgin made a trip to the Sanctuary of Fatima, where the apparitions took place, and one of them emptied his suitcase to fill it with earth from that place in order to take it to Malaga and place it in the place where the church was to be built, under its foundations.

He was stopped at the airport and this person was the only one whose suitcase was searched and asked for explanations. There were no further complications and that land is today on the site where the church is built.

The work was completed in 1961, and the Blessed Sacrament was moved to the aforementioned chapel.

The original image of Our Lady of Fatima was very small and was destined for a chapel. On the other hand, another one made in Seville in 1960 was brought to the parish.

One of the most striking features of the church is its façade and the campaigns with the carillon of the Ave de Fatima. It is a very beautiful construction that I have not seen anywhere else so far.

The style that stands out is neo-gothic mixed with modern, where you can see a repetitive use of the pointed arch, both on the exterior, windows and also in the interior. Its architect was Fernando Morilla Cabello.

The design is absolutely vertical to the eye, accentuating the lines and angles up to the bell tower.

Decorating the doorway of the church we find very marked reliefs that form drawings of the Virgin with four angels.

Inside there are three naves, the central one for liturgies and the much smaller side naves.

On entering, the first thing I found that stands out and contrasts with the parish itself is this kind of place with so many sculptures, creating a beautiful atmosphere, lots of colour and illumination, making it a place where the eyes focus without wanting to.

You could hear water fountains inside the model itself and different environments of a village with children, of the most luxurious houses, of shepherds, of nature. Everything was represented there. I took several shots trying to make you see what was the furthest away, because it was really worth it.

The details were amazing and as I said before lots of colours and very well lit.

Again, as in other churches I have visited, the ceilings caught my attention and in this case because of their vertical design and their high ceilings.

Although there are not many images in the interior, only a few of Christ and the Virgin, as well as Pope John Paul II, they are very well arranged and not overloaded.

The altar is also simple without much ornamentation, perhaps alluding to the simplicity of those little shepherds and the truly important meaning of Our Lady of Fatima.

The place where the image of Our Lady of Fatima is located is very original, very natural, alluding to the place of the apparitions, with a trunk (which has recently been removed) and a stone on a blue background alluding to the sky.
Around it the three little shepherds. A very simple but beautiful design.

It is also worth mentioning that there is an image that is considered to be a pilgrim and that first came to the city in 1948 and since 2011 it has been in this parish.
This image went on pilgrimage all over Spain, through the villages and the big cities.

The history surrounding this Virgin is well known for the apparitions that she made to the three little shepherds and that has travelled through history.

The church is apparently simple in appearance, but it has a unique style that admires the eye and all the senses.

Often that simplicity is the most beautiful and in this case I left with a good impression and happy with what I had seen, a beautiful history, art, lots of art and exquisite architecture.

Thank you very much to all of you for accompanying me here, a big greeting to all of you and see you next time.

Amonet.