Church of the Gesu in Rome – All You Need to Know before Visiting

Q: What is Gesu?

Gesu, or Jesus Christ , or Jesus of Nazareth, is a man considered by Christians to be the son of God and whose teachings form the basis of Christianity. It is assumed that Jesus was born in 4 BC and died at 30 or 33 (aged 33-36).

A great church called the Church of the Gesù (Italian: Chiesa del Gesù, officially named Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù all Argentina (English: Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus at the “Argentina”), is located in Rome, in Piazza del Gesù in the district of Piazza Venezia, and belongs to the 16^th century, the period of the early Baroque.

The church is the core of the Jesuit sanctuaries of the Society of Jesus. Holy relics, unique sculptures, and magnificent frescoes made it one of the most outstanding art samples of the Baroque style.

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Things to Know before Visit Church of the Gesù in Rome

What is Gesu?

Gesu, or Jesus Christ, or Jesus of Nazareth, is a man considered by Christians to be the son of God and whose teachings form the basis of Christianity. It is assumed that Jesus was born in 4 BC and died at 30 or 33 (aged 33-36).

Who painted the ceiling of church Gesu?

The most famous fresco, "The Triumph of the Name of Jesus," on the ceiling of the Church of the Gesù, was created by Giovanni Battista Gaulli, an Italian artist working in the High Baroque and early Rococo periods.

What elements of Il Gesù became very influential for baroque Catholic church design?

The most significant influence on the design of the Baroque Catholic Church was the “Triumph of the Name of Jesus,” the triumph of the Catholic missions, ultimately the triumph of the Church.

Who is buried in the Church of the Gesu?

Saint Ignatius of Loyola is buried in the mother church of the religious order of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits), which he founded in 1540. You can find his amazingly decorated tomb on the left side of the church of the Gesu, created by the Baroque artist Andrea Pozzo between 1696 and 1700.

History

The church has a fantastic Baroque facade, unmatched in the whole of Italy. Since 1568, the great architects Giacomo della Porta and Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola have been working on its design and construction.

The church was built on the place of another sanctuary where, according to the legend, Saint Ignatius of Loyola marked the beginning of the Jesuits, having prayed before the icon of the Holy Mother. The image of the Madonna still adorns the chapel of the temple to the right of the altar. The church was rebuilt many times, but the rooms of Loyola remained untouched. Even the ceilings there are higher than in other accommodations.

The Pozzo Corridor brings almost indescribable joy – a place where a journey in 3D space begins. There is a point of pink encrusted marble on the floor, giving you the appropriate angle to see the stunning illusionary perspective. This is where all the picturesque and architectural lines of a long corridor designed by a prominent architect converge.

Magnificent Ceiling

The most remarkable element of the interior is the magnificent ceiling painting made by Giovanni Battista Gaulli (8 May 1639 – 2 April 1709), in the 17th century.

The image adorns the central nave of the basilica. The Genoese artist started this work when he was 22 years old. Unfortunately, it was finished only for the fortieth anniversary of the master! Spectacularly depicted creatures create a stunning illusion of floating in space under the ceiling, visually casting a shadow. However, in reality, a fresco is painted in a single plane!

What Else to See Inside?

Visiting this church in Rome, you should pay attention to:

Chapel of St. Andrew (Italian: Cappella di Sant’Andrea), decorated with impressive frescoes by Agostino Champelli;
Frescoes that adorn the arches of the third chapel to the right – painted by Frederico Zuccari;
Pietro Cortona designed the transept of the church, and the altarpiece depicts “The Death of Francis Xavier” by Carlo Maratta of the 17^th century;
The image of St. Francesco Borgia was painted on the altar by Rome’s Jesuit Andrea Pozzo, which you can admire at the chapel of the Sacro Cuore (holy heart of Jesus);
St. Ignatius Chapel, located in the left transept of the church, with a saint’s statue inside;
The Chapel of the Madonna della Strada is to the left of the main altar. It houses an icon of the Mother of God from the 14^th century.

Also, a museum holds precious artifacts relevant to the Jesuits. Museum Hours: Saturday from 04:00 p.m. till 06:00 p.m. Otherwise, you can book a visit to the museum any time you want on the official church website www.chiesadelgesu.org.

Nearby Attractions

Crypta Balbi

3 min 490 ft 150 m

Piazza Venezia

5 min 790 ft 240 m

Santa Maria sopra Minerva

5 min 820 ft 250 m

Cat Sanctuary Ruins

5 min 890 ft 270 m

Altar of The Fatherland

6 min 920 ft 280 m

Doria Pamphilj Gallery

6 min 920 ft 280 m

Turtle Fountain

6 min 950 ft 290 m

Jewish Ghetto

7 min 1120 ft 340 m

St. Ignatius of Loyola

7 min 1210 ft 370 m

Pantheon

8 min 1310 ft 400 m

Author: Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)

Church of the Gesù