Tomek qwerty
Google
Admission to the church is free, but time-limited. The church is open from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The site was originally occupied by the old church of Sant'Ambrogio, mentioned as early as the 6th century and associated with Bishop Onorato of Milan, who fled to Genoa from the Lombard invaders. In 1552, the building passed into the hands of the Jesuit Order, which decided to remodel it. In 1589, the Jesuit architect Giuseppe Valeriano (Valeriani) designed it, remodeling it and adapting it to new spiritual, liturgical, and artistic requirements. Construction lasted until around the beginning of the 17th century, around 1606. The façade, although based on the original design, was completely rebuilt in the 19th century (specifically, 1894). The bell tower ("campanile") is a newer element, built in the 20th century.
Interior: main nave ("aula unica") with six side bays, nave with a central dome. Single-nave layout with vaults and side chapels. The interior is richly decorated: polychrome marble (multicolored), columns, side chapels, lectern, and flooring. The vaults and dome are decorated with frescoes (e.g., by the Carlone brothers) and other decorative and illustrative elements of the Genoese Baroque.
Most valuable works of art:
- "La Circoncisione" (The Circumcision of Jesus) by Pieter Paul Rubens, located at the main altar.
- "Saint Ignatius Healing an Obsessive Woman" by Rubens, also in the left aisle (third chapel from the left).
- "Assunzione" (The Assumption of Mary) by Guido Reni, in the right aisle (third chapel from the right).
- Numerous frescoes and decorations by the brothers Giovanni and Giovanni Battista Carlone.
Side chapels and works by numerous artists of the Genoese school and artists from outside Genoa make the church an important venue for the presentation of Baroque art.
Il Gesù served the Jesuit order, which, during the Counter-Reformation, placed great importance on architecture and art as tools to inspire the faithful and elevate the liturgy. The church has played, and continues to play, a significant role as a place of worship in Genoa. Artistic: It is one of the key examples of Genoese Baroque; its interior, decorations, altarpieces, and works by masters such as Rubens and Reni influenced local art and artists in the region. Historical: It inherits a very ancient site, dating back to the 6th century; it demonstrates the continuity of religious life in Genoa through the centuries, as well as its adaptation and reconstruction in response to changing styles, theology, and the needs of the faithful.
