Religious site
Church of the Gesù
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The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in Rome. Its façade is considered the first truly Baroque façade, and the church served as a model for Jesuit churches worldwide. Inside, you see a single nave without aisles, with a series of interconnecting side chapels, a grand dome, and a ceiling fresco of the Triumph of the Name of Jesus.
Don't miss
- Ceiling fresco 'Triumph of the Name of Jesus' by Giovanni Battista Gaulli (Baciccia), covering the nave vault, dome, and transepts.
- Chapel of Saint Francis Xavier in the right transept, designed by Pietro da Cortona, with a silver reliquary holding part of the saint's right arm.
- Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, containing the famous painting by Pompeo Batoni.
- Statues of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier on the façade.
- The main door's tympanum with a medallion of the Christogram IHS, representing the name of Jesus and the Society of Jesus.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Church of the Gesù
You can visit Church of the Gesù on your own. A guide is worth it for the history and detail that is easy to walk past, and a tour can combine it with nearby sights.
Cheapest way inRome: St. Peter’s Basilica, La Pietà, Papal Tombs and Dome4.8★ · 63 travelers1-2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$19 per personSee dates →
Most bookedVatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour4.5★ · 40,917 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$80 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleThe Very Best Tour of Rome5★ · 98 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$444 per personSee dates →Getting there
Know before you go
- Located at Piazza del Gesù in the Pigna rione of Rome.
- The church has a single nave without aisles, with side chapels behind arched openings.
- The interior is richly decorated with polychrome marble, gilding, frescoes, and stucco sculptures.
A bit of history
First conceived in 1551 by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the Spanish founder of the Jesuits. Construction began on 26 June 1568 to a design by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, with Giacomo della Porta later modifying the façade. The church was built on the site of the earlier church Santa Maria della Strada, where Ignatius had prayed before an image of the Virgin. It was consecrated on 25 November 1584.
Common questions
What is the significance of the letters IHS on the façade?
IHS is the Christogram, the Latin form of the first three letters of the Greek spelling of the name Jesus. It represents both Jesus and the Jesuit order's formal name, the Society of Jesus.
Where is the image of the Virgin that Saint Ignatius prayed before?
It is in the chapel of Saint Ignatius on the left side of the altar, now adorned with gems.
Why does the church have a single nave?
The Jesuits wanted the congregation to clearly hear the sermon, so the church was built with a single nave and a dome at the crossing to enhance acoustics.
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