Rome - Gesu Church 
The Gesù in Rome is the principal church of the Jesuits. The initiative for its construction came from Ignatius Loyola, founder in 1540 of the Society of Jesus, an order which spread quickly throughout the Roman Catholic countries of Europe and organized the Counter-Reformation. Adjoining the church is a house (now a Jesuit college) in which Ignatius was living at the time of the church's foundation.
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Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, whose heraldic lilies recur frequently in the decoration of the interior, commissioned Vignola to design and build the church, which was completed by members of the Society. The basic innovation of the design was to set a dome over the crossing of the nave and transepts of a basilican church, a type familiar in Roman, early Christian and medieval models. The Gesù was much imitated by later churches, not only in the general plan but also in details and the form of the façade.
Things to See
Facade
The facade of the Gesù Church in Rome by Giacomo della Porta, completed in 1575, shows both Renaissance and Baroque features. The two statues represent Ignatius Loyola and St Francis Xavier the venerated missionary.
Interior
The interior is notable for its unified effect. Flanking the nave are lateral chapels, which seem almost cut off from the body of the church, and beyond the spacious transepts is the choir, terminating in an apse. The decoration of the interior is of great richness, with variegated marble, sculpture, bronze statues, stucco ornament, gilding and frescoes. In the barrel vaulting of the nave is a painting of the "Triumph of the Name of Jesus", which glorifies the great missionary achievements of the Jesuits. Particularly notable are the altars and tombs of Jesuit saints: In the south transept the altar of St Francis Xavier by Pietro da Cortona (1674-8). To the right of the high altar the monument of Cardinal Ballarmine, with a bust by Bernini (1622). In the north transept the altar and tomb of St Ignatius (1491-1556), founder of the Jesuit order, by Andrea Pozzo (1696-1700). The present statue of the saint is a copy of the original silver statue by Pierre Legros, which Pope Pius VII was obliged to melt down to meet reparations payable to Napoleon under the treaty of Tolentino.
