Church of Santa Maria di Loreto

In the historic centre of Forio a flight of lava-stone steps leads up to the basilica of Santa Maria di Loreto, next to the old hospital. Its origins go back to an oratory from the early 14th century; the church took its present form in 1580 and was enlarged in the 17th century with a new transept and a new apse.We love the bell tower with its clock, built in 1731, and the high altar raised between 1780 and 1785, with stuccowork and black and white marble brought from Genoa. In 1787 the church passed to the town and the Madonna of Loreto was crowned.