Posted by Roberto D'Autilia on 07 May 2022
Church of St. Louis of the French
Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi
The Church of St. Louis of the French, located near Rome's Piazza Navona, is a significant Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, St. Denis the Areopagite, and St. Louis IX of France. Conceived initially by Jean de Chenevières in 1518, its construction faced delays due to Rome's 1527 sacking. Ultimately, architects Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana completed it in 1589, with a drastic redesign from its original plan. The church, funded partly by Catherine de' Medici, serves as France's national church in Rome. It has a rich history, including ties to the Abbey of Farfa and its property in Rome since the 10th century. Cardinal François de Joyeuse consecrated the church, which underwent interior restoration by Antoine Dérizet from 1749 to 1756. The Pieux Etablissements de la France à Rome et à Lorette oversees this and other French religious establishments in Rome and Loreto.