In 1468 began the work on the Holy House, first with a small rectangular building surrounded by a portico, followed by a church and finally from the Basilica, in the work collaborated the Tuscans Giulio Maiano and Baccio Pontelli, with the Venetian Marino di Marco from Cedrino. The Basilica is in Gothic Renaissance style, cross-shaped plan created by an ancient structure with three naves and another with a central Greek cross. The octagonal dome was built between 1498 and 1500 by Giuliano from Sangallo. Bramante also participated in creating the facade, but you can not see the teacher's work because it was built by Giovanni Boccalini, the interior has three naves separated by square columns with a cruise on the ribs. A rich and sumptuous marble enclosure is of the Holy House, the coating designed by Bramante, was built by Sansovino. The Chapel of the Annunciation was decorated with frescoes by Federico Zuccari, the sacristy of St Mark and St John by Melozzo from Forli and Luca Signorelli, the ceiling of the hall and the pavilion by the Treasury Pomarancio.
The bell tower was put into work between 1750-1754 by Luigi Vanvitelli, makes a fine show in front of the main entrance of the basilica a fountain by Carlo Maderno.

The Fortress - Sanctuary of Loreto opens the walkway on the battlement. For the first time are open to the public and fully viable with adequate guidance, "the rocchette ': the beautiful and picturesque walkways perambulate that characterizing the Church of the Holy House recalling the role of defensive fortress that had for centuries. In 1485 it was decided to build the towers and fortified the temple so that he could resist any Turkish incursion and impetus. Giuliano da Majano sketched a plan that gave the church the unmistakable countenance of a temple-fortress, he began the fortifications of the church with battlements rising flush with the wall. Maiano Loreto in 1487 and left in charge of the fortifications of the temple passed in 1488 to Baccio Pontelli general engineer of the pontifical fortresses in the March of Ancona. He modified the plan by Giuliano da Majano, and built a walkway or balcony resting on shelves, in a brilliant vision that perfectly fuses defense needs with the elegance of form, according to the canons of Renaissance art. Pontelli stayed in Loreto few months and the direction of the work of fortifying the church passed to Peter Amorosi that carried out and implemented the project. The threat of the Turks was renewed in 1518 when they began to put on fire Porto Recanati. So Leo X then ordered that the city would be equipped with ditches and ramparts. The work began in October 1518 and in 1521, they were completed in all its parts. The work was directed by Christopher Hesse from Imola in a general fortification plan for an unknown author, someone thinks in Andrea Sansovino, someone else in Antonio From Sangallo the Younger. The fortification of the church and of the city walls were never used for defense from external military attacks, but are useful for ensuring internal order. Loreto, now a destination for religious and cultural tourism, receives millions of pilgrims.

Info: Pro Loco Felix Civitas Lauretana
www.prolocoloreto.com

Accommodation / Food:
www.loretohotel.it

Hotel San Gabriele
Via Marconi, 22
60025 - Loreto AN
Tel: 0039 071 970160
Fax: 0039 071 976508
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Hotel Loreto
C.so Boccalini, 60
60025 - Loreto AN
Tel: 0039 071 7500106
Fax: 0039 071 7500108
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The image of Our Lady of Loreto, patron saint of aviators, it is also linked to certain flights known to the history of aviation. She Was in the plane of "Spirit of St. Louis proper, with Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic in 1927. In the airship "Norge" and "Italy", when General Nobile accomplished fly across the two polar regions. This image is now on display in the Museum of the Holy House.