Pope Francesco visiting Loreto on March 25, 2019

For the second time Pope Bergoglio returns to the Marche Region. In fact, after the visit to the Marche in Arquata del Tronto after the 2016 earthquake, he will travel to Loreto on March 25th, for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, to close the Synod of Youth. The news was announced, by Fabio Dal Cin, the archbishop pontifical delegate, declaring "..he will come as a pilgrim to the Holy House, between whose walls the young Mary of Nazareth said her Yes to the design of God..".

The program will be as follows: Pope Francis will arrive at Montorso at the youth center "John Paul II" at 9 am, welcomed by the archbishop of Loreto Fabio Dal Cin, as well as by the local authorities. At 9.30 after the transfer to the Basilica of Loreto, he will hold the Service in the Holy House. At the end, after having signed the Post Synodal Letter to the young people, he will visit the sick and go out to the church to meet the faithful, the Pope will deliver his speech and then recite the Angelus. After lunch with the bishops, Francesco will leave the Sanctuary at around 2.30 pm to come back to the Vatican.

How to reach Loreto?

By car we recommend the A14 Bologna-Taranto motorway, exit “Loreto-Porto Recanati”, then follow the provincial road 77 for about 3 km (and pay attention to the directions for the city center).
By train, departing from Milan, it's about 4 hours, with a change in Bologna and Ancona. From Rome it’s about 4 hours, with change at Falconara Marittima and Ancona. The train station is a twenty minute walk from the Sanctuary but buses and taxis will also be available.

Loreto has always been a place of pilgrimage, welcoming believers and faithful from all over the world to admire the stones of the Nazareth House of the Virgin Mary, contained within the Basilica, as well as an ancient tradition, now proven by historical research and archaeological sites. At the same time, in addition to being the Marian Sanctuary par excellence, the Basilica of Loreto has a unique architectural complex of Basilica-Fortress, the first built in Italy and in the world, which contains architectural masterpieces, sculpture and painting with famous names in the history of art, fundamental characteristics that have allowed Loreto to obtain a candidacy for the Unesco World Heritage.

Moreover, thanks also to the splendid village, built around the basilica, which offers remarkable panoramic suggestions, ranging from the sea to the Monte Conero, up to the Umbria-Marche Apennines, it becomes not only a city of religious tourism, but a territory with splendid natural Marche landscapes, which delights tourists with the many products of this land, and a lovely city of art to be discovered. This is why Engel & Völkers Civitanova Marche, as an intermediary in the sector of prestigious properties, includes Loreto in the most sought after and important places where to propose dream properties.

Sources and data: Corriere Adriatico, AnconaToday, Italia Agenzia Nazionale Turismo.