Pilgrim's guide
Loreto - Shrine of the Holy House - pilgrim's guide
Photos: Massimo Roselli · CC BY-SA 3.0
On a hill above the Adriatic stands a basilica that holds the Holy House, according to tradition the house in Nazareth where Mary lived. This guide is for pilgrims who want to pray within its walls, discover Loreto's history and plan their journey calmly.
Machine-translated guide.
Why go
Loreto is one of the oldest and most important Marian shrines in the world. At the heart of the basilica stands a small house of stone and brick, encased in a Renaissance marble screen. Pilgrims enter it to pray in the place which, according to tradition, witnessed the Annunciation and the childhood of Jesus. It is a pilgrimage to the mystery of the Incarnation and to the ordinary family life of the Holy Family.
Loreto also has strong Polish connections. At the end of the 19th century Polish Franciscans served as confessors at the shrine, and Loreto was then called the Italian Częstochowa. One of the chapels of the basilica holds a painting by Arturo Gatti depicting the Battle of Warsaw, and at the foot of the hill lies the Polish War Cemetery with the graves of soldiers of the Polish II Corps.
A short history
Tradition holds that in 1291, as the Crusaders were leaving the Holy Land, Mary's house was moved from Nazareth first to Trsat in former Illyria, now part of Rijeka in Croatia, and then, on the night of 9 to 10 December 1294, to the territory of Recanati, finally coming to rest on the present hill. Pious tradition attributes the translation to angels; the historical hypothesis points to Christians of the Crusader era who carried the stones of the house by sea.
Archaeological studies carried out in 1955-1965 showed that the Holy House has no foundations of its own and stands on an old road. The lower parts of the walls are built of stone found in Nazareth, not in Loreto, and many of the stones bear early Christian graffiti. Construction of the present basilica began in 1469, the facade was completed in 1587, and the bell tower, designed by Luigi Vanvitelli, was built in the mid-18th century. On 24 March 1920 Pope Benedict XV proclaimed Our Lady of Loreto patroness of aviators. In 2019 Pope Francis signed the apostolic exhortation Christus vivit, addressed to young people, in Loreto.
Getting there
Loreto lies in the Marche region, near Ancona, a few kilometres from the Adriatic coast. The nearest airport is Ancona; Rome and Bologna are other convenient gateways, from which you can continue by train along the coast. Many coach pilgrimages stop in Loreto on the way to Rome, San Giovanni Rotondo or Assisi.
- by train: Loreto station is on the Ancona - Pescara line, about 2 km from the shrine; you can walk up a stepped path in about 20 minutes, take a local bus to the last stop or take a taxi
- from Ancona: by regional train to Loreto station or by suburban bus towards Loreto Centro
- from Ancona airport (Falconara): by bus or train to Ancona station, then as above
- by car and coach: via the A14 motorway along the Adriatic, which runs at the foot of the hill
When to go
The shrine is open all year round. In summer it is easy to combine a pilgrimage with a seaside break, but this is also the busiest time. Weekdays in autumn and winter are the quietest, except during the December celebrations.
- 10 December - feast of Our Lady of Loreto and commemoration of the arrival of the Holy House in Loreto
- 15 August - Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 8 September - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the main feast of Loreto
- June - night walking pilgrimage from Macerata to Loreto
What to see and experience
- the Holy House beneath the dome of the basilica - prayer inside its stone walls
- the statue of the Black Madonna of Loreto inside the Holy House
- the 16th-century marble screen around the Holy House, with reliefs of scenes from the life of Mary
- the chapels of the basilica, including the painting of the Battle of Warsaw
- the Pontifical Museum in the Apostolic Palace, with late paintings by Lorenzo Lotto among others
- the Piazza della Madonna with its fountain designed by Carlo Maderno and Giovanni Fontana
- the Polish War Cemetery with over a thousand graves of soldiers of the II Corps, overlooking the sea and Ancona
- a walk along the defensive walls around the shrine
Practical information
- entry to the basilica is free
- dress: modest, with shoulders and knees covered; inside the Holy House keep silent and pray briefly to let others in
- confession is available daily, details on the shrine's website
- the Welcome Office (Ufficio Accoglienza) on the Piazza della Madonna helps with booking accommodation and meals, provides information and arranges catechesis in the Holy House for groups
- wheelchairs are available for people with disabilities
- the shrine sets rules for photography and filming; check them before your visit
- opening hours and Masses: check the shrine's website
Accommodation and food
The shrine runs its own facilities for pilgrims; the list and booking contacts are given by the Welcome Office on the shrine's website. Groups can also order meals at the restaurant of the Apostolic Palace. In Loreto itself and along the nearby coast there are many religious houses, guesthouses and hotels. The cuisine of the Marche means fish from the Adriatic, olives and simple pasta dishes.
Tips from pilgrims
- there is a queue for the Holy House; come early in the morning or at lunchtime, when groups are in the restaurants
- it is cramped inside the Holy House, so keep your prayer there short and pray at length in the basilica
- if you arrive by train, the climb from the station is steep; with luggage it is better to take the bus or a taxi
- do not miss the Polish War Cemetery - for many, praying for the fallen soldiers is the most moving moment of the visit
- stay until the evening: once the coaches have left the basilica is quiet, and the view from the hill over the sea at sunset is unforgettable
- combine Loreto with Osimo, a short drive away, where St Joseph of Cupertino rests
On foot and on the trail
Loreto is the destination of the Via Lauretana, an old pilgrim route from Assisi of about 150 km, usually divided into seven stages through Spello, Colfiorito, Camerino, Tolentino and Macerata. Take a credential with you to collect stamps along the way. Every June there is also a night walking pilgrimage from Macerata to Loreto, about 28 km long, which draws thousands of participants; the current date is published on the organisers' website.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Holy House in Loreto really Mary's house from Nazareth?
That is the tradition of the Church. Archaeological studies have shown that the lower walls are made of stone typical of Nazareth, not of Loreto, and bear early Christian graffiti similar to those found in the Holy Land. The historical hypothesis holds that the stones were transported by Christians in the time of the Crusades.
How do I get from the railway station to the shrine?
The station lies about 2 km below the shrine. You can walk up a steep path with steps in about 20 minutes, take a local bus to the last stop or take a taxi.
When is the feast of Our Lady of Loreto?
On 10 December, the anniversary of the arrival of the Holy House in Loreto on the night of 9 to 10 December 1294. The town's main feast, however, falls on 8 September.
Where is the Polish War Cemetery in Loreto?
At the foot of the hill, between the shrine and the A14 motorway. Over a thousand soldiers of the Polish II Corps rest there. The cemetery was opened in 1946 on the initiative of the Polish military bishop Józef Gawlina.
Why is Our Lady of Loreto the patroness of aviators?
According to tradition, the Holy House was carried through the air by angels. In 1920 Pope Benedict XV proclaimed Our Lady of Loreto patroness of aviators and of all air travellers.
