Pops’ Rome Travel Guide, Church of the Gesù

The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. Officially named Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina or in english, (Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus at the "Argentina"), its facade is "the first truly baroque façade", introducing the baroque style into architecture. The church served as model for many Jesuit churches all over the world, especially in the Americas.

The Church of the Gesù is located in the Piazza del Gesù in Rome. The Church of the Gesù is a few blocks south of the Pantheon so it can be visited along with the other sites around the Piazza Navona. The inside of the church is beautiful with artwork provided by many artists of the time including Ciampelli, Rinaldi and Bernini who prayed daily at the church.

What I most liked about the church was the many beautiful chapels inside the church. Among them are the Cappella di Sant'Andrea, Cappella della Passione, Cappella degli Angeli, Saint Francis Xavier Chapel, Cappella di San Francesco Borgia, Cappella della Sacra Famiglia, Cappella della Santissima Trinità, and St. Ignatius Chapel. In the back is the high alter. The most striking feature of the interior decoration is the ceiling fresco, with the Triumph of the Name of Jesus by Giovanni Battista Gaulli.

This is certainly worth seeing as a church and for its artwork.