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The Marche is home to thousands of churches, monasteries and abbeys. The holy shrine of Loreto, a little hill town near the coast, is one of the most frequently visited sanctuaries in the world. According to an ancient tradition, the Nazareth home of the Virgin Mary is preserved in the Shrine of Loreto. Mary's earthly home was said to be made up of two parts; a grotto cut out of the rock and a stone-built house in front of the cave. After the Crusaders were expelled from Palestine in 1291, legend has it that Mary's stone house was transported by angels first to Croatia and then to Loreto on December 10, 1294. Inside the Holy House, the Madonna statue is black, carved from Lebanon cedar. The shrine is protected by a fine Renaissance basilica with 13 different chapels around the Holy House. Each year, many undertake the all-night 16 mile pilgrimage on foot, leaving Macerata at dusk and arriving in Loreto as the sun rises. People from all over the world participate (the late Pope John Paul II took part on 19th June 1993) and this candle lit procession has a beautiful, unforgettable atmosphere.

We are offering a 4 night holiday with daily tours accompanied by an English representative, including a guided tour of Loreto, visits to some of the most beautiful churches and the opportunity to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the Marche. For those who wish, there will also be the chance to go on the night pilgrimage, although this is entirely optional.

Date: Thursday 8 June - Monday 12 June 2006: NMITINERARY

Price: £ 400 per person (double occupancy)

Includes:

• 4 nights half board in Il Vecchio Granaio, a 3-star hotel
• Use of the hotel's outdoor swimming pool
• All transport and transfers
• All entrance fees on the tours
• All tours accompanied by an English Tour Manager
• Lunch on arrival at the hotel
• Dinner out in a restaurant serving the best local delicacies

Supplements: £30 for a single room (for the 4 nights)

Flights not included: Ryanair flies daily direct from London Stansted to Ancona airport

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Secret Marche

Fiona Barrie Murray Email: info@secretmarche.com
Technical Organisation: Il Regista Travel Agency, Borgo Piediripa, 92, Macerata, Italy
Tel: 0039 0733 288060 Fax: 0039 0733 285436

[AUT.REG.17181 REA 159488 CEA 147085]