DISCOVER THE MARCHE REGION

The town of Loreto is situated on a hill, between the valleys of the rivers Potenza and Musone. It is one of the most important pilgrims’ destinations in the world. Thousands of people visit it every year and religious tourism positively influences the economy of the town, which has therefore developed to welcome and host the pilgrims and produce religious items.

Inside, the building has the form of a Latin cross with one nave and two aisles and three semicircular apses.

There are several considerable works of art, outside the building, too. On the higher part of the middle portal there is a statue of the Virgin Mary with Infant Jesus by Girolamo Lombardo.
All doors are made of bronze and decorated with noteworthy bas-reliefs. On the left of the facade there is the bell-tower, which is more than 75 mt. high and elegantly covered with Istrian stone, a work by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli. The whole building is dominated by a dome, by Giuliano da Sangallo, with a statue of the Virgin Mary of golden copper.

Inside, under the dome, there is the Holy House, covered with marble bas-reliefs, made by the best sculptors of the 1500s, from designs by Bramante, under Andrea Sansovino’s supervision, representing scenes from the life of the Virgin and statues of the prophets. Inside the Holy House – blackened by the time and smoke of the candles – it is still possible to see traces of frescoes dating back to the 14^th century and the cedar-wood sculpture by Celani, Virgin Mary with Infant Jesus.

The main entrance is the imposing Roman door (1590) facing Piazza della Madonna. In the square it is also possible to see the Illyrian Palace and the Apostolic Palace, which is characterized by a beautiful portico with a loggia. In the Palace there is the historical archive of the Holy House and the art gallery that preserves an extraordinary art heritage in its 12 rooms, including eight marvelous canvasses by Lorenzo Lotto. It is also important to remember the collection of majolica pots and officinal vases manufactured in the second half of the 16^th century.