Alentejo Marbles in the construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima, Portugal

Abstract

The ornamental stones used in the construction of the Basilica of Fátima (built between 1928 and 1954) are a carefully selected visible material that dominates both the architecture and the sculpture of the building. These rocks came from various locations and suppliers in Portugal. Using an interdisciplinary methodology that combines analysis of historical records with macroscopic analysis of the ornamental stones, it was possible to identify a great variety of stones from the regions of Pêro Pinheiro-Sintra and the Estremoz Anticline, as well as from Fátima quarries. In this paper, several varieties of white, pink, and dark marbles from the Estremoz Anticline in Alentejo that were used within the Basilica are identified. The criteria that were used in their selection for application in some of the most important parts of this building are discussed. The interdisciplinary methodological approach employed here may support decision-making for conservation and restoration work in the future.