The newer of Fátima's two basilicas, consecrated in 2007, sits at the opposite end of the esplanade from the older Rosary basilica. Its scale is extraordinary: the circular nave holds 8,633 people, making it one of the largest Catholic churches in the world. The architect, Alexandros Tombazis, designed a building that is intentionally restrained on the outside — almost severe — to avoid competing visually with the older structures, but the interior opens into a wide, low-lit space flooded by natural light from a central oculus.
The building represents the theological completion of the sanctuary: where the older basilica commemorates the apparitions, the new basilica is oriented toward mass celebration and the liturgy. The entrance doors feature bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament, and the walls inside are lined with figurative panels by Portuguese artists. Whether you find it successful as architecture depends on your taste — it is uncompromising — but its sheer size impresses regardless.