Our Lady of Loreto Lookout

To provide an additional tourist attraction, the Primošten Municipaliity constructed a lookout on the hill Gaj. From the lookout, visitors can enjoy breathtaking sunsets and view of the town itself, as well as the surrounding islands and the islands of the Šibenik archipelago.

In the middle of the lookout stands the statue of Our Lady of Loreto. Together with its base, the statue is 17 m high, precisely one tenth of the height of the hill. It is made of concrete, it is hollow so people can take a look inside. The outer surface is adorned with gold, silver and coloured glass mosaic. Aron Varga was the architect in charge of the project and mosaic master Milun Garčević worked on the mosaics with his team of experts.

Thanks to the efforts made by the Primošten Municipality and the representatives of the Italian project “Cammini Lauretani”, Our Lady of Loreto in Primošten is listed on the International Pilgrimage Routes of Marian shrines. On the list there many shrines; one of them is Trsat in Croatia and others are in Rome, Vienna, Krakow, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Brussels and many other European cities.

According to Mr. Stipe Petrina, the Mayor of Primošten, the idea of a lookout on the hill Gaj dates back to 1972. The initial project was a restaurant on top of the hill. The project was later modified and the construction of the statue of Our Lady confirms the faith and devotion the people of Primošten have for the Virgin Mary.

In 1835, Marko Prgin, a man from Primošten, saw a painting of Our Lady of Loreto in his dream. He borrowed a boat and sailed to the town of Loreto in Italy to find that painting. He found it and brought it back to Primošten, but it was not accepted by laymen. When a cholera epidemic broke out in Primošten, the Parish priest Mate Livić suggested to the people to accept Marko’s painting and carry it in procession around the village. That was done and from that 10th May 1835 nobody died of cholera. The people of Primošten celebrate and honour Our Lady of Loreto as their protectress.

At the lookout there is a café and a souvenir shop. During summer, concerts are held there.