Santuario della Santa Casa in Loreto 
In the Piazza della Madonna in Loreto, with a beautiful 17th century fountain, stands the Santuario della Santa Casa, a Gothic hall-church with a fortress-like exterior begun in 1468 under Pope Paul II and continued in 1479-86 by the Florentine Giuliano da Maiano; the dome dates from 1500. The handsome facade, showing influence of Late Renaissance, was added in 1583-87. The three bronze doors are decorated with figures and bas reliefs.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
Santuario della Santa Casa in Loreto
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A bronze statue of Pope Sixtus V stands on the left in front of the facade.
The interior of the church was altered from 1526 onwards. To the left of the entrance is a beautiful font (1607). Adjoining the south transept are the two sacristies, with celebrated wall paintings: on the right frescoes by Melozzo da Forli (1438-94), on the left much restored frescoes by Luca Signorelli and an assistant together with a marble fountain by Maiano. In the choir apse ("Capella dei Tedeschi") are paintings by Ludwig Seitz (1893-1908).
The interior of the church was altered from 1526 onwards. To the left of the entrance is a beautiful font (1607). Adjoining the south transept are the two sacristies, with celebrated wall paintings: on the right frescoes by Melozzo da Forli (1438-94), on the left much restored frescoes by Luca Signorelli and an assistant together with a marble fountain by Maiano. In the choir apse ("Capella dei Tedeschi") are paintings by Ludwig Seitz (1893-1908).
Related Attractions
Santa Casa
In the center of the Santuario della Santa Casa, under the dome, is the Santa Casa, a simple brick building (4.2m/13.75ft high, 8.8m/9.5yds long, 3.9m/4.25yds wide) surrounded by a high marble screen designed by Bramante (16th century). On the walls are scenes of the life of the Madonna and of the transportation of the Santa Casa to Loreto.
