Church of San Francesco a Ripa

The Church of San Francesco a Ripa, located in the Trastevere district of Rome, is an important Franciscan place of worship dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. The church was built in the 13th century, near the place where Saint Francis stayed during his visits to Rome. The church’s baroque facade is simple yet elegant, with a portico that leads visitors into a solemn atmosphere. The interior features a wide and bright central nave, flanked by side chapels decorated with frescoes and valuable works of art. Of particular interest is the Paluzzi-Albertoni Chapel, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which houses the famous sculpture of the Ecstasy of Blessed Ludovica Albertoni. This sculpture, created in the 17th century, is considered one of the masterpieces of Roman Baroque and an extraordinary example of Bernini’s artistic mastery. An interesting anecdote concerns the church’s connection to Saint Francis of Assisi, who stayed in an adjacent humble cell, now preserved inside the church as a place of prayer and devotion.