Inside the huge basilica is a small chapel made of unplastered stones - it is called the "Holy House" (Santa Casa). Legend has it that this is the actual house from Nazareth where Mary lived and where the Annunciation took place. It was supposedly brought to Italy by angels in 1294. In fact, it was probably brought by crusaders from Palestine after the conquest of the Holy Land.
Construction of the basilica began in 1469, designed by Giuliano da Maiano. Later, famous architects such as Bramante (who designed the marble shell of the Holy House), Antonio da Sangallo Jr. and Luigi Vanvitelli (the dome) were involved.
The façade is of white stone and in the late Renaissance style. Note the statues of the apostles and the magnificent portal. Inside the basilica you will find a large dome, one of the largest in Europe at the time. The interior is richly decorated with frescoes, mosaics, marble and gold. Each chapel is different - each country had its own built here (e.g. Polish, French or German).
The most interesting part
The core of the Santa Casa, located today in Loreto, is a rectangular structure measuring about 9 by 4 meters with three "original" walls made of sandstone masonry. The "house" itself is small, plain and made of rough stones, which contrasts with the splendour of the surrounding area. On the outside it is clad in a richly decorated marble shell designed by Donato Bramante, architect of St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Inside you'll find the Black Madonna of Loreto, a venerated wooden statue (the original burned in 1921, this is a cedar wood copy).
From the 16th century onwards, the Jesuits promoted the building of imitations of the Holy House (including the Bramante wrapper), known as loreto.
Tips for visiting
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Admission is free, but it can get quite crowded, especially on weekends or during pilgrimages.
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The tour takes about 30-45 minutes if you really want to see everything.
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It's worth climbing the dome (for a fee) - it has a great view of the city and the sea.
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Outside, note the courtyard with the fountain, and if you have time, check out the museum in the Apostolic Palace next to the basilica.
