HOTEL CASADEI · SURROUNDINGS & ITINERARIES · SANCTUARY OF THE MADONNA OF LORETO
Loreto owes its international fame to the Mariano Sanctuary, around which it was developed.
From a lovely hill protrudes the majestic silhouette of the Basilica, destination of numerous pilgrimages, built in 1469 by the Bishop of Recanati to protect the celebrated Holy Dwelling where the Virgin Mary was born and lived.
Tradition narrates that when the crusades where expelled by the Palestines, a group of angels took the Dwelling and flew it first to Illiria and then to the territory of Loreto, and it is for this reason that the Madonna of Loreto is worshipped as the "Patron of Aviators".
Archaeological studies confirm the place of origin of the dwelling, both for its style and constructive materials used at the time in Terrasanta, therefore not known in the Marche territory, furthermore, the dimensions of the dwelling coincide with those of the "hole" left in Nazareth where it was first found.
Today, according to new documental indications, the hypothesis that the stones of the Holy Dwelling were transported to Loreto by ship, by the initiative of the family of Angels, results of a recent discovery of a document from 1294, has been confirmed.
The architecture of the inside of the Basilica is in a Latin cross with three naves and, besides the Dwelling, it contains other works of art like the bronze baptistery done by Tiburzio Vergelli and paintings by Pomarancio on the vault.
The cupola is opera of Giuliano da Sangallo, while the bell tower was done by Luigi Vanvitelli. The walls of the Holy Dwelling are enclosed by an artistic marble covering, one of the greatest sculptural works of art of the Renaissance, done by Donato Bramante.
Absolutely worth mentioning is the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna, sculpted by Leopoldo Celani in 1922, whose particularity is the dark face, common to the most ancient icons.
Main festivities of Loreto reoccur on the 8th of September, day of the Nativity of Mary, and the 10th of December, day of the arrival of the Holy Dwelling.
How to get there:
Loreto is about 67 kilometers from Marotta.
Take the provincial road of Val Cesano to the Autostrada A14 entrance in the direction of Ancona. Take the Loreto exit and follow the Ss77 road.
From a lovely hill protrudes the majestic silhouette of the Basilica, destination of numerous pilgrimages, built in 1469 by the Bishop of Recanati to protect the celebrated Holy Dwelling where the Virgin Mary was born and lived.
Tradition narrates that when the crusades where expelled by the Palestines, a group of angels took the Dwelling and flew it first to Illiria and then to the territory of Loreto, and it is for this reason that the Madonna of Loreto is worshipped as the "Patron of Aviators".
Archaeological studies confirm the place of origin of the dwelling, both for its style and constructive materials used at the time in Terrasanta, therefore not known in the Marche territory, furthermore, the dimensions of the dwelling coincide with those of the "hole" left in Nazareth where it was first found.
Today, according to new documental indications, the hypothesis that the stones of the Holy Dwelling were transported to Loreto by ship, by the initiative of the family of Angels, results of a recent discovery of a document from 1294, has been confirmed.
The architecture of the inside of the Basilica is in a Latin cross with three naves and, besides the Dwelling, it contains other works of art like the bronze baptistery done by Tiburzio Vergelli and paintings by Pomarancio on the vault.
The cupola is opera of Giuliano da Sangallo, while the bell tower was done by Luigi Vanvitelli. The walls of the Holy Dwelling are enclosed by an artistic marble covering, one of the greatest sculptural works of art of the Renaissance, done by Donato Bramante.
Absolutely worth mentioning is the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna, sculpted by Leopoldo Celani in 1922, whose particularity is the dark face, common to the most ancient icons.
Main festivities of Loreto reoccur on the 8th of September, day of the Nativity of Mary, and the 10th of December, day of the arrival of the Holy Dwelling.
How to get there:
Loreto is about 67 kilometers from Marotta.
Take the provincial road of Val Cesano to the Autostrada A14 entrance in the direction of Ancona. Take the Loreto exit and follow the Ss77 road.