San Francesco a Ripa

This Trastevere church contains one of the raciest religious sculptures in the world, Bernini's Beata Ludovica in Ecstasy

Bernini's Beata Ludovica in Ecstasy (1671–74). (Photo by Torvindus)

Bernini really had a thing for women in quite visceral states of religious ecstasy (see Santa Maria in Vittoria). The baroque master carved such a scene for this Trastevere church where St. Francis himself once stayed as a guest.

This time it's ★ Bernini's Beata Ludovica in Ecstasy, whose reclining on a couch and looking like the brand of ecstasy she is experiencing is a very earthy one indeed.

(Hey, I'm not trying to be blasphemous here; it really does look that way—and I'm far from the first person to notice. This sculpture has been seen by many to be scandalous since the day it was unveiled.)

Tips & links

Details

ADDRESS

Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi 88/Via San Francesco a Ripa
tel. +39-06-581-9020
www.sanfrancescoaripa.com

OPEN

Daily 8:00am–1:00pm and 2:00pm–7:30pm

ADMISSION

Free
Roma Pass: No

TOURS

Context: Jewish Ghetto & Trastevere

San Francesco a Ripa tours

Take a guided tour of San Francesco a Ripa with one of our partners:

Context: Jewish Ghetto & Trastevere

How long does San Francesco a Ripa take?

Planning your day: I'd plan to spend only 5–10 minutes in here—but budget another 20 minutes just to get here and back as it's a bit isolated. » Rome itineraries

Go on a sunny day

Try to visit when it's sunny and the natural light pouring in from a half-hidden window helps make the scene really come alive.

Mass

You can attend services at San Francesco a Ripa daily at 7:30am, 9am, and 6:30pm (plus Sundays at 11am).

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