The Dome Basilica at The Fatima Shrine:
Capturing Sunrise & Sunset
The construction of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima Basilica was started in 1963 and completed in 1965. This unique church measures 100 feet in diameter and 55 feet high. The dome is covered with a layer of glass and one of plexiglass depicting a contour of the Northern Hemisphere upon which rests a beautiful statue of Our Lady Fatima.
The Barnabite Fathers wanted to express an architectural form that Our Lady is very much in the midst of the world helping humanity to reach the Lord.
Our Lady of Fatima: Top of The Dome
Two flights of stairs, consisting of 63 steps each, led to the top of the dome, for where one enjoys a beautiful view of the shrine grounds and surrounding hills.
The large statue of Our Lady of Fatima is 13 feet high and weighs 10 tons. It was sculptured in Vermont Granite. The grayish color of the stone disappears at night under the spotlights, and the statue seems to beam as a star for all people.
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| ©2025 James Dacey Jr. |
A Symphony of Light and Stone
The Basilica's distinctive architecture combines the solidity of cut stone with the grace of a glass-paneled dome. The limestone exterior, with its rhythmic series of arched doorways, provides a classical foundation that contrasts beautifully with the modern dome above. During sunrise and sunset, these architectural elements become a canvas for nature's light show.
As demonstrated in these striking photographs, the most captivating moments occur when the sun sits low on the horizon (sunrise and sunset). The images reveal how the sun's rays create dramatic sunbursts along the dome's edge, with light beams stretching across the blue sky like celestial fingers. The low-angle sunlight produces long shadows that stretch across the shrine's grounds, adding depth and dimension to the scene.
Architectural Details in Natural Light
These photographs highlight how the building's thoughtful design works in harmony with natural light. The arched entrances, crafted from pale limestone, feature detailed stonework that becomes more pronounced when side-lit during early morning or late afternoon. Above these classical elements, the dome's glass panels catch and reflect the sunlight, while the statue at its apex stands as a silent sentinel against the sky. Look how beautiful the dome looks lite up at night.
Photography Perspectives
These images, captured with a wide-angle lens, showcase the shrine from a perspective that emphasizes its impressive scale while including the surrounding context. The curved distortion at the frame's edges, characteristic of wide-angle photography, adds a dynamic quality to the composition, drawing the viewer's eye upward toward the dome and the brilliant sunburst above.
A Place of Natural and Spiritual Light
The photographs reveal how the shrine becomes a focal point for both natural and spiritual illumination. The sun's position, whether rising or setting, creates lens flares and light rays that seem to emanate from the structure itself, lending a tangible quality to the shrine's spiritual significance. The deep blue sky provides a perfect backdrop, allowing the white
stone and metalwork to stand in bold relief.
Seasonal Beauty
The presence of trees in the images, some with autumn foliage, reminds us that the shrine's appearance changes with the seasons. The grounds, visible in the photographs with their paved pathways and carefully maintained landscape, provide both physical and visual access to this remarkable structure.
Through these photographs, we see how the Dome Basilica at Fatima Shrine transforms throughout the day, reaching its most spectacular moments when the sun's angle creates these extraordinary displays of light and shadow. The images capture not just a religious structure, but a piece of architecture that seems designed to celebrate the natural phenomenon of light itself.
Just a Couple More Photos
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
were taken by me, an Amateur
Photographer and Writer/Author.
mostly in 2023.
