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Via Lauretanaの最終区間

The sanctuary of LORETO, official name: "Santuario Basilica Pontificia della Santa Casa di Loreto", is one of the great European Marian pilgrimage sites, together with "Lourdes" in the French Pyrenees and "Fatima" in Portugal. Unlike the two places mentioned, however, Loreto is not known for apparitions of the Mother of God. Here, pilgrims can show something very tangible: Mary's childhood home in Nazareth (Israel). Her parents - not mentioned by name in the biblical writings of the New Testament - are mentioned in apocryphal traditions: Saint ANNA and Saint JOACHIM are thus the grandparents of Jesus Christ (their common memorial day in the calendar of saints is July 26). When the time of the Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land came to an end towards the end of the 13th century, crusaders probably dismantled the venerated building in Nazareth and brought it to Europe. But this very sober assumption is contradicted by a much more interesting legend: According to it, four angels carried out the translation and flew the house over the Mediterranean.

The Musone originates in the municipality of Gagliole, at around 775 meters above sea level, from the convergence of two valleys and continues eastwards to flow into the Adriatic Sea a few kilometers away. In Latin times, it was known as Misco; during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the stretch of the river near the confluence with the Aspio marked the border between the Republic of Ancona and the Marca Fermana. At this point, the river can generally be crossed without difficulty.

The sanctuary of Loreto, destination of the path called Via Lauretana, preserves one of the most important relics of Christianity, the Holy House of the Madonna. The sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto is a rare example of a fortress basilica, which over three centuries, thanks to the collaboration of talented artists including Bramante and Vanvitelli, was built to guard, in its heart, a precious jewel: the walls of the Holy House of Mary of Nazareth which, according to Christian tradition, was prodigiously transported in flight by angels to Loreto. Inside the Holy House there is also the statue of the "Black Madonna" (with a dark face as was used in the most ancient icons), protector of aviators and at the center of Marian devotion.

For those looking for a quiet adventure it's great

In 1291 - according to popular tradition - after Nazareth fell into Islamic hands, four angels lifted the "Holy House" into the air and carried it towards the Adriatic. The house initially found its place on the Dalmatian coast, where it received little attention. The legend then goes on to say that the angels moved the house near Recanati, just a few kilometers south of Loreto. This time many believers came to properly admire the house, but also a number of looters. Now the house found its new location in the garden of two brothers. They got into a heated argument over ownership of the gift from heaven. The odyssey came to an end when the angels brought the house to its current location on December 10, 1294. That is the traditional legend. Whether you believe her or not is another question. There is silence in the "Holy House": This is where the pilgrims meet to present their concerns to Our Lady in prayer and to remain in adoration. It is also part of the pilgrims' custom to walk around the house on their knees, as evidenced by the smooth stones around the "Santa Casa".

According to legend, a few years before they were expelled from Palestine, the Crusaders carried the Holy House to Croatia, where it remained until 1294. But here it was neither safe nor sufficiently protected and revered, so they decided to transport it across the sea to the area of Recanati, to the estate of a woman named Loreta. Some claim that the house was divided into blocks of stone which the Crusaders then reassembled, others claim that it was transported here as it was. What is certain is that the stones used for the construction are typical of Palestine, as is the cement mortar

Walking through the streets of Filottrano you can breathe the medieval atmosphere of the town. It is the city of tailoring, so much so that there is the sewing machine museum.