Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

The Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio, located in the center of Rome, is a Baroque masterpiece built between 1626 and 1650. Dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, it was funded by Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi. The main architect was Orazio Grassi, a Jesuit also known for his disputes with Galileo Galilei. The facade of the church, attributed to Alessandro Algardi, is divided into two orders and features a main entrance flanked by Corinthian columns. Inside, the church has a Latin cross plan with six side chapels and houses numerous works of art, including the frescoes by Andrea Pozzo. One of Pozzo’s masterpieces is the ceiling of the main nave, where an extraordinary perspective illusion is depicted simulating the opening of the ceiling towards the sky, with Saint Ignatius ascending towards glory. Another notable feature is the painted false dome, created by Pozzo to make up for the lack of a real masonry dome, due to economic constraints and the locals’ desire not to obscure sunlight. The church also houses important burials, including those of saints such as Luigi Gonzaga, Roberto Bellarmino, and Giovanni Berchmans, all members of the Society of Jesus. The church was built to serve the students of the Roman College and not for public worship, which is why the decoration of the side chapels was carried out by the Jesuits themselves. The side chapels are adorned with works by various artists, including Pierre de Lattre, Francesco Trevisani, and Pierre Legros. The funerary monument of Pope Gregory XV, created by Pierre Legros, is located in the Ludovisi chapel. In addition to visual art, the church is known for its pipe organ, built by the Pontifical Organ Factory Tamburini in 1935, replacing a previous instrument. The current organ, with 53 stops, is located on the side walls of the apse and continues to be used for liturgical celebrations.