Church of San Luigi dei Francesi (St. Louis of the French)
Piazza di S. Luigi de' Francesi Roma Roma
The Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, the French National Church in Rome, stands as a center of faith, history, and artistic heritage. Built in the 16th century to serve the growing French community, its construction began under Pope Clement VIII and was entrusted to Domenico Fontana and Giacomo della Porta, the architects behind St. Peter’s Basilica.
The church’s greatest treasures lie in the Contarelli Chapel, where three masterpieces by Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, depict the life of St. Matthew. These paintings—The Calling of St. Matthew, The Inspiration of St. Matthew, and The Martyrdom of St. Matthew—capture the evangelist’s divine mission, struggle, and ultimate sacrifice, rendered with Caravaggio’s signature use of dramatic light and realism.
A place of pilgrimage and artistic admiration, San Luigi dei Francesi remains a sacred space where French history, Christian devotion, and Baroque artistry unite in a profound testament to faith.
Recommended Nearby:
Basilica of Sant’Agostino in Campo Marzio
Both churches are among Rome’s most significant Renaissance-era Marian sites. Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, like Sant’Agostino, houses important works of art, including Michelangelo’s Christ the Redeemer and frescoes by Filippino Lippi, complementing Sant’Agostino’s Madonna di Loreto by Caravaggio.
See Also:
Best of Art in Rome's Churches - Self Guided Tour
Religious paintings and sculpultures are typically meant to be viewed in sacred spaces. Rome's churches hold worldclass works from the Renaissance and Baroque period's greatest artists. These works still remain in the places for which they were initially intended. They enrich the atmosphere around the liturgy, and they help guide the prayer experience calling to mind moments of the Gospel and Lives of the Saints. Here are some key places to visit in Rome to get you started.
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