Like Fatima in Portugal or Lourdes in the south of France, in the Balkan region there is a place of pilgrimage for the world's devout Catholics: the town of Medjugorje, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where believers assure that the virgin mary appeared to six Croatian children on June 24, 1981.
The thing about the Marian apparitions is, of course, a matter of faith. However, there is an unquestionable reality: Medjugorje is today an important focus of religious tourism in Europe. The most devout claim to have witnessed amazing supernatural phenomena; others simply believe that it is a good place to do business.
The success of Medjugorje draws attention even when the Vatican has not ratified the authenticity of the miracles that supposedly have occurred there. In March 2010 it was announced that a formal investigation would be launched, but the Holy See seems quite skeptical.
What is proven is that Medjugorje was the scene of one of the most terrible massacres of Orthodox minorities at the hands of the Croatian (Catholic) fascist forces during World War II. But if you make a pilgrimage to this place (for religious reasons or simple curiosity) you will not find any reference to this episode. It is estimated that more than thirty million tourists have visited Medjugorje so far. Apart from Croatian visitors, most of the pilgrims come from nearby Catholic Italy, passing through the city of Mostar, 15 km north.
More information - Stari Most, the old bridge of Mostar
Images: medjugorje.ws