Loreto town (1991 est. pop. 10,780), in the Marche, central Italy, on a hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea. It has silk industries and is a famous place of pilgrimage. According to legend, the Holy House of the Virgin in Nazareth was brought to Loreto through the air by angels in 1294.

Analysis of literary sources, however, indicates that the transport of the Santa Casa happened by sea and not through the assistance of angels. During the medieval period of Christian history it was common for monks and crusaders to be called ‘angels’ by the common people, this explaining the legend of ‘angels’ flying the house from the Holy Land to Loreto. Archaeological evidence and documents uncovered in 1962 suggest that the house may indeed derive from the region of Nazareth as its limestone and cedar construction materials are not available in the area of Loreto.

The Holy House itself is quite small, and its single room with a small altar contains a Black Madonna statue and a blue ceiling with golden stars. In 1469, a large Basilica was built over the Holy House.

The arrival of the Holy House in Loreto is celebrated on December 10. The Virgin of Loreto is considered the patron saint of emigrants, and expectant mothers often visit the shrine to pray for protection and blessings of their families. Today Loreto is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Europe with an estimated 4 million visitors each year.

The Black Madonna

A Black Madonna or Black Virgin is a statue or painting of Mary in which she is depicted with dark or black skin. The Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto is simply an image as unfortunately the 14th century one was destroyed by a fire in 1921. The original wasn't black but the red fir had darkened over the centuries, so when the new statue was carved from Lebanon cedar a black tint was used it caused no sensation since by then everyone was used to seeing a black Madonna.