Museum churches in Ancona Province

The Cathedral of St. Venancio is one of the most important and prestigious churches of the Marche, both for its fine architectural structures and for its works of art.

It was first built in the Upper Medieval times. In 1253 the bishop from Camerino moved the baptismal font from Attigium to the church of St. Venancio, which therefore became more important in the surrounding area.  

The church was widened during the 13^th century and it got Gothic style shapes that still survive in the polygonal-shaped apse, in the cloister and in the chapel of St. Lawrence, where important frescos by the 14^th century painter Allegretto Nuzi are preserved:  the life of Saint Lawrence and the fresco representing the Madonna with Child and Saint Venance.

In the Chapel of the Holy Cross you can admire a Crucifixion by Allegretto Nuzi, as well as some frescoes by Giovanni di Corraduccio from Foligno and works by the Master of San Verecondo.

The church was rebuilt during the 17^th century by the architect Muzio Oddi and it was adorned by the stuccoes by Francesco Selva. In 1728 it became a cathedral, as Fabriano became the seat of a diocese, and finally, in 1963, it became a basilica.

In the cathedral there are extraordinary works of art in Baroque and Mannerist style, such as the canvases by Gregorio Preti, Giuseppe Puglie, Salvatore Rosa, Giovan Francesco Guerrieri.  Particularly valuable are the Passion and Crucifixion scenes, painted  around 1620 by the well known painter Orazio Gentileschi, one of Caravaggio's followers.

The church exterior is of simple late renaissance style, in contrast with its astonishing Baroque interior. The famous “Burial of Christ” by Federico Barocci is housed here.

Loreto, a small town of Ancona Province, is known all over the world for its Sanctuary that makes it one of the most important places of pilgrimage and pray for the Catholics, together with Medjugorje and Lourdes. The believers go to Loreto to give prays of devotion to the ruins of the Holy House where Jesus lived in Nazareth. On the basis of a former ancient tradition and latter historical and archeological researches, it is confirmed indeed that the Loreto Sanctuary keeps the Nazarene House of Mary; according to tradition, when in 1921 the crusaders were driven from Palestine out, the walls of the house of Mary were brought first to Illyria (to Tersatto, the present Croatia) and then to Loreto (10 December 1294).

Inside the Sanctuary you will admire: The Dome – The Crucifix Chapel – the French Chapel or Sacrament’s – the Slavic Chapel or Cirillo and Metodio Saints – the Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel or American’s – the Choir Chapel or German’s – the Sacred Heart Chapel or Polish’s – the St John Sacristy or Signorelli’s – the Urbino Dukes Chapel – the St Joseph Chapel or Spanish’s – the Swiss Chapel or Gioacchino and Ann Saints – St Mark Sacristy or Melozzo’s – the side Chapels –the Treasure Room or Pomarancio’s.

The square outside the Sanctuary ends in the northern and western sides with the Apostles Palace, in the eastern side with the front of the Basilica, and in the southern side with the Illyrian Palace; on you r left hand you will admire the Bell Tower drawn by Luigi Vanvitelli; instead, in the middle there is the Fountain by Carlo Maderno and Giovanni Fontana.
We have to mention the impressive Basilica of Loreto Dome built in the octagonal drum, up to the eaves by Giuliano da Maiano; it was vaulted by Giuliano da Sangallo in only eight months, from September 1499 to May 1500.

“The Loreto Holy House is the first Sanctuary of International importance dedicated to the Virgin and the true Marian heart of Christianity”. (Pope John Paul II)

In the Sacristy of St. John of the Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto, Luca Signorelli made a series of frescoes between 1481 and 1485. The decorations represent the Evangelists (Luke, Mark, Matthew, and John) and Doctors of the Western Church Girolamo, Gregorio Magno, Augustine, Ambrose), in which clearly emerges the influence of the painter Piero della Francesca. The stylistic choice is related to the Tuscan school and it can be seen in the eight Musician Angels. On the walls, there are the Apostles and episodes representing the Incredulity of St. Thomas and the Conversion of St. Paul, which is a masterpiece for the use of perspective and the dramatic force of the painting.

Between 1477 and 1479, Merlozzo from Forlì made the impressive frescoes in the dome of the Sacristy of St. Marc of the Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto. This is one of the first examples of cupola decorated with pictures and architectural elements, themes influenced by the Bridal Chamber by Andrea Mantegna in Mantua. The paintings on the ceiling vault depict angels holding the tools used during the Passion and Prophets, whereas the ones on the wall depict Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. Vasari called Melozzo from Forlì the great artist for perspective.