Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto
Loreto, Italy
A great pilgrimage basilica built around the Holy House, said to be Mary’s home in Nazareth. Large car parks for motorhomes lie below the old town.
The sanctuary of Loreto houses the Santa Casa, which tradition holds to be the house of Mary from Nazareth. According to the legend, angels carried the house to Loreto in 1294; more recent research suggests the stones were transported by ship. Work on the basilica began in 1469 and was completed in 1587 with the façade. Those involved included Giuliano da Maiano, Baccio Pontelli and Giuliano da Sangallo, who built the dome. Donato Bramante designed the marble screen around the Santa Casa. The bell tower was built by Luigi Vanvitelli in the 18th century.
The present statue of Mary dates from 1922, after its predecessor was destroyed by fire in 1921. In the Palazzo Apostolico on the square in front of the basilica, the museum displays paintings by Lorenzo Lotto. A guided tour of the sentry walkways takes about 50 minutes. Allow at least one to two hours for the basilica and the Santa Casa.
- Nearest town
- Loreto, Italy
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 43.4410, 13.6100
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June, August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
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Nearby
© Antonio Castagna from Teramo, Italy · CC BY 2.0Portonovo bay
© Accurimbono · CC BY-SA 4.0Frasassi caves
© No machine-readable author provided. Lorenzo.ferrucci~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 2.5Lago di Fiastra
© pizzodisevo · CC BY-SA 2.0Gola dell’Infernaccio
Campsites nearby
- Area Sosta Camper LoretoMotorhome stopover0 km from Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto · 40 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping AdriaticoCampsite4 km from Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto · 250 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping Village Conero AzzurroCampsite5 km from Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto · 38 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersNo dogsWi-Fi
- Camping PinetaCampsite6 km from Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto · 250 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping Riviera VillageCampsite8 km from Basilica of the Holy House, LoretoTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Area Sosta Camper SiroloMotorhome stopover9 km from Basilica of the Holy House, LoretoMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
All campsites in Italy · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto?
Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto is in Loreto, Italy, at GPS 43.4410, 13.6100. It is about 6 km from Recanati.
Can you camp near Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Area Sosta Camper Loreto, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 41 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto?
Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Conero Riviera and the Frasassi caves.
What is there to see near Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto?
Places worth a stop nearby: Portonovo bay (14 km), Frasassi caves (52 km), Lago di Fiastra (57 km) and Gola dell’Infernaccio (60 km).
When is the best time to visit Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June, August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)