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The early 18th-century facade of this curious building is a wonderful
piece of baroque whimsy, with 27 bells that play the hymn "We Greet Thee
A Thousand Times" on the hour; you will get to hear it at least once
while queuing to get in. Inside are a number of buildings as curios as the
facade. The Church of the Nativity of Our Lord features a surreal interior
that includes the skeletal remains of St Felicissima and St Marcia. The
Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrow is constructed around the remains of St
Starosta, the legendary bearded daughter of the King of Portugal, who
escaped an arranged marriage by growing a beard with divine assistance.
Central to the complex however is the Loreta itself, one of a series
of replicas of the Santa Casa in the Italian town of Loreto that dot
Christendom. The original is supposedly the home of the Virgin Mary that
was transported from Nazareth to the Italian town by angels to rescue
it from the advancing Turkish troops. This replica has an awe-inspiring
silver altar that is merely preparation for the magnificent treasury
on the first floor of the complex. Crammed with gold, silver, and
jewels, despite being looted no less than four times, this impressive
collection remains a suitable testament to the wealth of its founders.
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