Loreta, Baroque church in Hradčany, Czech Republic
Loreta is a Baroque pilgrimage complex on the eastern side of Loretánské Square in Hradčany, Prague. Its pale yellow facade with a red tiled roof carries a central tower topped by a green copper spire with a golden star, an arched belfry with bells and a gold-numeral clock. Behind the facade, arcaded ambits and the Church of the Nativity of the Lord enclose the central Loreta Chapel of the Virgin Mary.
Construction began in 1626 under the direction of architect Giovanni Orsi, funded by Baroness Kateřina Benigna from the Lobkowicz family. In 1695, the bell tower was fitted with a carillon from Amsterdam that has played daily ever since.
The replica of the Casa Santa, the holy house from Nazareth, stands in the center of the courtyard and draws pilgrims from across Europe. The treasury preserves centuries-old liturgical vestments, chalices, and golden monstrances that were once used in solemn ceremonies.
The sanctuary sits near Prague Castle and can be reached on foot or by tram. The interior spaces are accessed by stairs, and visitors should dress appropriately for a religious site.
The bell tower houses a carillon of thirty bells that plays Marian hymns every hour across the rooftops of Hradčany. The instrument came from Amsterdam and was installed in the late 17th century.
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