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Comune in Marche, Italy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Loreto (/ləˈrɛtoʊ/ lə-RET-oh,[3] US also /ləˈreɪtoʊ/ lə-RAY-toh,[4] Italian: [loˈreːto]) is a hill town and comune of the Italian province of Ancona, in the Marche. It is most commonly known as the seat of the Basilica della Santa Casa, a popular Catholic pilgrimage site.
Loreto | |
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Comune di Loreto | |
Piazza della Madonna with façade of the Basilica della Santa Casa | |
Coordinates: 43°26′20″N 13°36′31″E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Marche |
Province | Ancona (AN) |
Frazioni | Costabianca, Grotte, Stazione, Villa Berghigna, Villa Costantina, Villa Musone, Villa Papa |
Government | |
• Mayor | Paolo Niccoletti |
Area | |
• Total | 17.69 km2 (6.83 sq mi) |
Elevation | 127 m (417 ft) |
Population (28 February 2009)[2] | |
• Total | 12,278 |
• Density | 690/km2 (1,800/sq mi) |
Demonym | Loretani or Lauretani |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 60025 |
Dialing code | 071 |
Patron saint | Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
Saint day | 10 December |
Website | Official website |
Loreto is located 127 meters (417 feet) above sea level on the right bank of the Musone river and 22 kilometers (14 miles) by rail south-southeast of Ancona; like many places in the Marche, it provides good views from the Apennines to the Adriatic.
The city's main monuments occupy the four sides of the piazza: the college of the Jesuits; the Palazzo Comunale (formerly the Palazzo Apostolico), designed by Bramante, that houses an art gallery with works of Lorenzo Lotto, Vouet and Annibale Carracci as well as a collection of maiolica, and the Shrine of the Holy House (Santuario della Santa Casa). It also boasts a massive line of walls, designed by the architect (and military engineer) Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, which were erected from 1518 and reinforced in the 17th century.