CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LORETO (PRAŽSKÁ LORETA)
A little higher up than the Château, Place Notre-Dame-de-Lorette is a haven of peace and quiet. This important place of pilgrimage was built between 1626 and 1750 by the family of the famous Dientzenhofer. The design is reminiscent of Italian churches: the architect was in fact commissioned to draw inspiration from the sanctuary of Loreto, near Ancona, and he succeeded marvelously, which explains the church's name. Its tower houses a set of 27 bells that play a melody every hour for several minutes, gently giving rhythm to life in the neighborhood.
Inside, the sanctuary, also called " Santa casa ", is, according to legend, one of the houses of Nazareth that the angels deposited all over the world. There are more than fifty Santa Casas in Bohemia, and all are the object of major pilgrimages, although none has attained the aura of the Santa Casa in Loretto, Italy.
The interior is a masterpiece of decoration. Paintings, gilding, sculptures and relics form a busy but always harmonious whole. In the Treasure Room, don't miss the "Prague Sun", a dazzling gold monstrance with flaming rays, set with 6,222 diamonds. For enthusiasts, the treasury also houses an impressive collection of cult objects assembled over the last few centuries from various regions and countries of Europe. A priceless religious (and financial) treasure!
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Members' reviews on CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LORETO (PRAŽSKÁ LORETA)
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Unique Le 'point of interest is the visit of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette church which is really worth a visit (it takes 15 to 20 minutes from Charles Bridge)