Loreto, Religious pilgrimage center in Marche, Italy
Loreto is a small town in the Province of Ancona in the Marche region, rising on a hill above the Adriatic coast. The historic center is surrounded by a fortification wall that encloses the square in front of the large church.
Since the 13th century the place developed into a destination for believers after the small house arrived here. The protective walls were built in the 16th century to defend pilgrims and the sanctuary from attacks from the sea.
The name comes from a laurel grove that once grew on the hill before pilgrims began visiting the site. Today believers from across Europe come to pray before the small house protected inside the large church.
The journey is done by regional trains that stop at the station below the town, from there a path leads up to the center. The main square provides orientation for all sights that can be reached on foot.
The small wooden sculpture inside the house has been darkened by candle smoke over centuries and now bears a black patina. Many visitors do not notice that the outer marble screen was added later around the original building.
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