Loreto, Marche
Loreto ( , , ) 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. Location. Loreto is located above sea level on the right bank of the Musone river and by rail south-southeast of Ancona; like many places in the Marche, it provides good views from the Apennines to the Adriatic. Main sights. 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. Twin towns and sister cities. Loreto is twinned with: