We were in the middle of a highway in Italy, travelling from the north after a business meeting when there was this sudden decision to stop by a very important church in Loreto – the Basilica della Santa Casa (also known as the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto).
This is because inside the basilica, the Holy House can be seen. It is believed to be the home where Mother Mary lived and where the Annunciation took place. You might be wondering how this can be possible when history made it clear that Mother Mary hailed from Nazareth.
It was said that three hundred years after Jesus died, Emperor Constantine built a basilica over the humble brick house believed to have sheltered the Holy Family, which came under threat during the turmoil of the Crusades, so it was moved first to Croatia in 1291 which was again transferred in 1294 in Recanti, Italy and transferred again until it found its place in Loreto, Italy.
The Holy House of Loreto is one of the most valued Marian shrines in the world. For me, to be in a significant place of pilgrimage as this is such a blessing.
The ascent to the place was a beautiful scenery of the plains.
And what shall I see on the far end of this doorway?
The Piazza della Madonna di Loreto.
Right in the middle is the façade of the Basilica della Santa Casa.
A sudden feeling of serenity caught me the moment I entered the basilica. There was complete silence and only a few people were inside. It’s May and I was thinking that there’s not a lot of tourists yet at this time. Then I found the pilgrims crowded inside the Holy House.
The Holy House is inside the marble enclosure as can be seen in the picture below.
More on history, know that the octagonal dome of the basilica was completed in May 1500 by Giuliano da Sangalo (influenced by Brunelleschi – architect and engineer, responsible for engineering the dome of the cathedral in Florence). The fresco painting is quite new compared to the dome, a masterpiece of Cesare Maccari (painter and sculptor) from 1890 to 1907.
The intricate details.
(Took this shot from the front of the altar. Look at all those giant pillars and the Gothic interiors.)
There are a total of 12 chapels and sacristies inside the church. One of them is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament or the French Chapel.
Awed by the fresco paintings all over the place and the whole brilliant architecture of the basilica.
The artwork on the ceiling of the church were simple but distinctive to my eyes. They were frescoes framed in water drop-shaped haloes.
Madonna and child at the foot of the monument in front of the basilica.
In the middle of the piazza was a fountain designed by Maderno and Fontana who brought water to the fountain through a gallery nearly 5 km. in length from the Recanati area, to meet the needs of the pilgrims. (source : www.santuarioloreto.it)
The last view I had before leaving.
And were off to the *autostrada again.
I found these pretty little ones outside the piazza near the street.
When I was 10 years old, and in Grade IV, Our Lady of Loreto was the name of my class section [Hmm… I think Ms. Lopez, our adviser will be proud I was able to visit this holy Church . 😊]
“In this life, there are always pleasant surprises. We must always be thankful for them and to those who bring them to us”.
-xoxo-
For more information on the place, please visit: www.santuarioloreto.it/en_index.asp
*AUTOSTRADA is the Italian word for HIGHWAY.
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