Portugal is the oldest state on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the oldest in Europe. It is among the top 20 most-visited countries in the world, receiving an average of 20 million foreign tourists each year. The most important hotspots in Portugal are: Lisbon, Porto, Evora, Algarve and Cascais. Also approximately 5 million religious pilgrims visit Fatima each year, where apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children reportedly took place in 1917. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima is one of the largest Roman Catholic shrines in the world. The Portuguese government continues to promote and develop new tourist destinations, such as the Douro Valley, Coimbra and other cities.
