Loreto

People from all over the world come to Loreto on pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Nazareth which according to legend was carried here by angels after the Muslim invasion of Palestine. The magnificent Holy House is also the spiritual and architectural heart of the Sanctuary; the greatest artists of all times worked on this magnificent structure of the Gothic-Renaissance period which was build over 300 years: Giuliano da Maiano designed the architecture, Giuliano da Sangallo, Andrea Sansovino and Francesco di Giorgio Martini created the cupola, Vanvitelli the bell tower, Bramante designed the facades, the chapels and the marble facing of the Holy House. The paintings are by Melozzo da Forlì, Luca Signorelli and Pomarancio to name but a few of the many famous artists whose works are housed here.

The Art Gallery in the Apostolic Palazzo is also well worth a visit and house the works of Lotto (including the Presentation at the Temple) while the walls which were constructed by Leone X on the design of Antonio da Sangallo, the Younger.

On December 10th each year the “translation” is celebrated with the traditional "fireworks of the coming "

www.loreto.it