San Luigi dei Francesi

The national church of France in Rome, San Luigi dei Francesi took shape after the Abbey of Farfa ceded the site to the Medici family in 1480; construction, interrupted by the 1527 Sack of Rome, was completed in 1589 by Domenico Fontana and Giacomo della Porta.

Highlights

Caravaggio’s three great canvases on the life of St. Matthew: The Calling, The Inspiration, and The Martyrdom
Domenichino’s Histories of Saint Cecilia
Charles-Joseph Natoire’s Stories of St. Louis IX, St. Denis, and Clovis
A façade by Giacomo della Porta, with statues of Charlemagne, St. Louis, St. Clothilde, and St. Jeanne of Valois

Mass Times

Sunday: 10:30 a.m. (main church)

Monday–Friday: 7:00 p.m.

Saturday: 12:30 p.m.

Saint-Yves-des-Bretons (affiliated chapel): Sunday 6:30 p.m., Thursday 6:30 p.m. (academic year only)

As the French national church, French is the presumed primary Mass language, though the official site does not explicitly state each Mass’s language.

Opening Hours

Mon–Fri: 9:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m., 2:30–6:15 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., 2:30–6:30 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00–12:45 p.m., 2:30–6:30 p.m.

Closed every first Wednesday of the month morning.

Address

Piazza di San Luigi dei Francesi, 00186 Roma

Official Website

saintlouis-rome.net