It is a small subsidiary church dedicated to the Madonna of Loreto, part of the Parish of San Biagio in Muccia, located in the locality of Costafiore.
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SS Maria di Loreto Church
La chiesa della Madonna di Loreto a Costafiore è una chiesa sussidiaria di epoca XIX, di proprietà ecclesiastica, dedicata alla Vergine Lauretana, all’interno di un tessuto territoriale ricco di piccoli edifici religiosi nella frazione di Muccia.
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Arcidiocesi Camerino San Severino
The Church of Costafiore replicates the exact dimensions of the Holy House of Loreto.
An important tradition is associated with the Madonna of Loreto, widespread throughout the Marche and parts of Umbria: on the night of December 9th to 10th, bonfires are lit to illuminate the path that angels are said to have created to transport the Holy House of the Madonna from Nazareth to Loreto.
The church has a gabled façade once crowned by a bell gable with a single arch. Its stone cladding combines squared blocks with mixed-size stones. The façade features a central portal with brick jambs and a sandstone lintel, a decorative theme echoed in the windows located beside and aligned with the entrance.
The building is covered by a pitched roof supported by a wooden framework composed of trusses, secondary beams, and purlins. The exterior is clad with terracotta roof tiles.
Constructed using traditional techniques, the church rests on load-bearing masonry faced externally with light-colored stone blocks. Following earthquake damage, the walls were stabilized using wooden poles tied with steel cables and metal anchors.
The structure likely dates from the 18th–19th century, built by Marche craftsmen, and remains the property of a Catholic religious institution.
It serves as a minor church, a local place of worship, and a Marian devotion site for the rural population.
The church is part of the sacred area of Costafiore, together with other small churches (such as San Nicolò) and devotional routes, set within a hilly landscape rich in medieval history.
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