Gesu

Officially known as “The Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus”, the church most often referred to as simply “Gesu” was consecrated in 1584. Designed by architects Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola and Giacomo della Porta in Baroque style (even though it is said that Michelangelo offered to design it for free), it became the model for many other Jesuit churches built around the world.

Its lavish decoration was a reaction to the protestants who preferred a more sober design and was meant to emphasize the importance of the church in the religion. The church took 12 years to build and in addition to being the mother Jesuit church, it also served as the home of the Superior General until the suppression of the order in 1773.

Construction of the church began in 1568 according to the designs of Vignola. It measures 76m (250 feet) long and 34m (110 feet) wide, with a 25 meter-wide nave (82 ft). The architect’s creation closely followed the rules outlined by the Council of Trent, which stated that there would be no narthex for “lingering” and a single nave with no aisles so that the congregation would all be focused on the high altar. Instead of aisles, there are a series of identical interconnecting chapels behind arched openings, accessible via decorative balustrades with gates.

Despite its Baroque exterior, the interior is indicative of the High Renaissance with a dome, extended nave, frescoes, barrel vaults, white stucco and marble sculptures. The most prominent feature is the frescoed ceiling by artist Giovanni Battista Gaulli (aka Baciccio), entitled “Triumph of the Name of Jesus.”

Each of the chapels is quite unique. In the chapel dedicated to St. Andrew, visitors can view frescoes by Agostino Ciampelli depicting both the male and female martyr saints. The ceiling fresco is entitled “The Glory of the Virgin” and the altarpiece represents the martyrdom of St. Andrew.

In the chapel called Cappella della Passione (Chapel of the Passion), guests can view frescoes and paintings depicting scenes from the Passion of Jesus by artists including Giuseppi Valeriani and Gaspare Celio. Several past Jesuit leaders are also memorialized inside this chapel.

Other chapels are dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, the apostles, the Nativity, and the Trinity. The largest and grandest of all the chapels is the one dedicated to the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius of Loyola. Designed by Andrea Pozzo in 1696, it houses the saint’s tomb. A huge statue of St. Ignatius, crafted by Pierre Legros, is flanked by four lapis lazuli-veneered columns.

Also of note is the Chapel of the Madonna della Strada, decorated with scenes from the life of the Virgin, painted by G.P. Pozzi and Giuseppe Valeriani.