The Chiesa del Gesù is a 16th century church in the Piazza Matteotti in Perugia. Inside the church there are paintings by the famous artist Andrea Pozzo. The construction is quite unique and consists of four connecting halls.
Gesù Church Perugia
Useful Information
The official address of the church is Via Galeazzo Alessi, 1 – Perugia (PG), Italy (tel. +39 075 721786). The opening hours of the Chiesa del Gesù are: Monday to Saturday: 07:15 to 11:45 and 16:45 to 18:45; Sunday: 09:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 20:00. The Barnabite friars also give guided tours (Monday and Wednesday at 11:45 and Sunday at 17:30).
History
The Chiesa del Gesù was built between 1562 and 1571. The architect was Giovanni Tristano, who was a Jesuit himself.
In 1775, when the Jesuit order was banned, the church was given to the Congregation of the Barnabites (1775).
The church has a unique construction, with four halls that span each other. The first one is the church proper, then the Oratory of the Nobility, then the Oratory of the Artists and finally the Oratory of the Peasants. From the Via Angusta behind the church, the whole construction resembles a tall tower.
The facade was restored in 1934.
In 1989, part of the church was badly damaged as a result of a fire.
Works of Art
On display are a number of 17th century frescoes created by Genovese painter Andrea Carlone.
Other frescoes are by Andrea Pozzo, who was also responsible for a famous chapel in the Chiesa del Gesù in Rome.
The wooden crucifix in the main nave is the work of Bartolomeo Tronchi.
Curiosities
The Chiesa del Gesù is situated next to the Palazzo del Tribunale. In 1202, after the Battle of Collestrada between Perugia and Assisi, St. Francis was imprisoned in this building for a year.