Abstract:
The Holy House of Loreto is steeped in centuries of pious legend and sacred
ritual. Its identification as the house of the Virgin, and site of the Annunciation, makes it
unique to the Catholic tradition as a spatial relic where earthly and celestial domains
converge. Legend describes the relic's translation in the geographic sense, but the house
also underwent a theoretical translation in the early modem period. While late-medieval
iconography of the Holy House privileges its connection to local religious identity, later
imagery reflects Papal appropriation of the site's jurisdiction. Through an ambitious
building and artistic campaign, including the talents ofLuca Signorelli and Donato
Bramante, among others, Rome amplified the universality and renown ofthe site,
stamping it as specifically Roman. Finally, pilgrimage souvenirs and architectural
replicas ofthe house spread the cult of Loreto throughout Europe, making it a truly
international symbol of Christianity.