Located in Cova da Iria in central Portugal, the Shrine of Fátima is among the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, with many travelling long distances on foot to reach it. To support such gatherings, the site recently adopted a new audio system using Renkus-Heinz IC Live beam-steering technology.
Centred on a large prayer area linking two basilicas and a chapel, the Shrine of Fátima regularly hosts congregations of 50,000–100,000 people. Peak celebrations in October place concert-scale demands on the audio infrastructure, where reliable communication is essential. However, its legacy audio system was no longer able to deliver the intelligibility and coverage required.
To address these substantial challenges, project consultant and system designer Ricardo Castro from RCOE specified Renkus-Heinz IC Live beam-steering arrays, including five ICL-F-RD and 38 ICL-F-Dual-RD loudspeakers. The project was delivered in collaboration with distributor SeeSound, whilst the in-house technical team carried out the system installation and integration.
With minimal physical boundaries and significant wind and environmental noise, achieving controlled sound reflection was critical. IC Live arrays were secured on lamppost pillars around the outdoor prayer area. This, combined with the ICL-F’s digital beam-steering technology, ensures sound is precisely directed toward the audience. The use of dual modules achieves higher SPL and tighter vertical control, resulting in consistent audio performance during large ceremonies.
‘Controlled vertical dispersion helps minimize reflections and reduce noise spill, while ensuring audible projection above crowd noise,’ says Castro. ‘The loudspeakers’ IP54 rating alongside durable Finnish birch enclosures and robust steel grilles make them well suited to this exposed outdoor environment, where reliable performance is required in all weather conditions.’
To ensure consistent sound coverage in such a vast open space, an additional central pillar housing loudspeakers was introduced. ‘At first, the architects were concerned that a new pillar might disrupt the Shrine’s aesthetic,’ Castro says. ‘However, once they saw how the compact loudspeakers blended into both the slim profile of the pillar and the surrounding environment, they were reassured.’ All loudspeakers were custom painted, and cabling carefully concealed, allowing the system to enhance visitor experience without detracting from the striking architectural setting.
‘As a global pilgrimage destination hosting multiple ceremonies each day, including at night, installation work had to be carefully scheduled,’ Castro continues. IC Live’s digital steering significantly reduced installation complexity, eliminating the need for intricate adjustments and angling hardware. ‘Loudspeaker settings were predefined using RHAON configuration software, minimising set-up time and reducing disruption to ongoing services.’
Beyond supporting ceremonies and major celebrations, the new system was designed with public safety in mind. The previous infrastructure lacked redundancy, whereas the new design ensures reliability through multiple rack rooms, maintaining at least 50 per cent network operation in the event of a major failure. Additional safeguards include primary and secondary Dante paths, a third AES-EBU feed, and analogue backup in critical areas.
While the shrine’s full audio renovation will continue over the next four to five years, this phase has already set a new performance benchmark. ‘The transformation has been incredible. Complaints about sound have disappeared, replaced by a sense of amazement,’ confirms Castro. ‘Pilgrims and visitors are consistently impressed, with balanced audio across the full frequency range.’
The upgraded audio system supports events of extraordinary scale, from daily services to major international pilgrimage celebrations attracting tens of thousands. Through advanced beam-steering technology, the Renkus-Heinz IC Live system ensures that every message can be delivered with unmatched clarity and reliability.
‘The transformation has been incredible,’ reports RCOE CEO, Ricardo Castro. ‘Complaints about sound have disappeared, replaced by a sense of amazement. Pilgrims and visitors are consistently impressed, with balanced audio across the full frequency range.’
More: www.renkus-heinz.com