The Via Lauretana connects two of Italy's most sacred sites: the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi and the Holy House of Mary in Loreto. This ancient Marian pilgrimage, formalized in the late 1500s, is considered the oldest Marian walking Camino in the world.
📜 History & Significance
Loreto houses what tradition holds to be the actual home of the Virgin Mary, miraculously transported from Nazareth in 1294. The three stone walls of the Holy House—measuring 31 by 13 feet—became one of Christianity's most important pilgrimage destinations, drawing saints, popes, and millions of ordinary pilgrims over seven centuries.
The Via Lauretana originally connected Rome to Ancona via Loreto, built as both a commercial road and pilgrimage route. By linking Rome, Assisi, and Loreto, it united three of Catholic Italy's greatest spiritual centers. Today's route focuses on the magnificent Assisi-to-Loreto segment through the green heart of Italy.
🥾 Route Overview
The route covers 165 km in 7 stages from Assisi to Loreto, crossing from Umbria into the Marche region. From Assisi, pilgrims climb through olive groves to Spello, then ascend to the highland plateau of Colfiorito—the most challenging stage at nearly 30 km with significant elevation gain.
Beyond Colfiorito, the route descends through the historic duchy of Camerino before reaching the art cities of Tolentino and Macerata. The final stage brings pilgrims to Loreto, where the Basilica della Santa Casa crowns the hilltop, visible for miles across the rolling countryside.
☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites
Basilica of St. Francis (Assisi) - The starting point, with Giotto's frescoes and the tomb of Il Poverello himself.
Spello - A perfectly preserved Umbrian hill town with Roman gates and Pinturicchio frescoes in the Baglioni Chapel.
Camerino - Capital of the ancient Da Varano duchy, with a remarkable university and medieval center.
Sanctuary of the Holy House (Loreto) - The destination, where the three walls of Mary's house from Nazareth are enclosed within a magnificent marble screen designed by Bramante.
📚 Further Reading
Curated resources to help you research and plan your pilgrimage on the Via Lauretana.
