Church of Saint Louis of the French

20 Best Things to Do in Rome, According to Locals

"A church in Rome that contains notable Caravaggio works and is included on suggested routes for finding the artist’s paintings dispersed throughout the city's sacred and civic spaces." - Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz is a writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributing digital editor in 2015. She has also held positions as a contributing editor at The Points Guy and the NYC cities editor at DuJour Magazine. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her writing has appeared in Architectural Digest, Surface Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine, T Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, GQ, Departures, Afar, Fodor's, Town & Country, Condé Nast Traveler, Robb Report, Hemispheres, and others. When she's not jetsetting around Italy and beyond, she can be found in Rome, enjoying some cacio e pepe or relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. Originally from the Boston area, Laura moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and translation at Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in French from Smith College. * 10+ years of experience writing and editing * Co-wrote "New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants," an award-winning guide to New York City's speakeasy scene published by Jonglez Editions in 2015 * Contributed to "Fodor's Brooklyn," published by Penguin Random House in 2015, which won silver in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition * Contributed an essay to "Epic Hikes of Europe," published by Lonely Planet in 2021 * Updated the 2022 edition of "Fodor's Essential Italy" Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

"In 1589, the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi became the official churchof Rome’s French community, and with true Bourbon flair, the church's decorations are a celebration of France's power and wealth, with gilded stucco, lavish marbles, and detailed ornament. But it can feel as though no one is noticing, since visitorsusually head directly to the Contarelli Chapelin the transept to the left of the main altar, where three incredible Caravaggio paintings reside: The Calling of Saint Matthew , The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew , and Saint Matthew and the Angel . Known as the Matthew Cycle, the beautifully detailed and dark oil paintings show off the best of the baroque painter."

Rome's Art & Architecture: Our Guide

"Even if not a huge art buff, take the five minutes to wander to the Contarelli chapel inside this small catholic church which is just a short stroll from the Pantheon. It's home to three Caravaggio paintings which showoff the maestro's command of chiaroscuro which can all be seen for free and away from the crowds that mob his works inside the museums." - Laura Itzkowitz