Chiesa del Gesù, Baroque church in Ancona, Italy

Chiesa del Gesù is a Baroque church in Ancona with a concave facade made of pale Istrian stone and brick accents that rises above the surrounding plaza. A semi-elliptical staircase connects the building to nearby Piazza Stracca below.

A first church was built here in 1605 for Count Giovanni Nappi, and a Jesuit college was added in 1631. Luigi Vanvitelli rebuilt it between 1733 and 1743 as part of Pope Clement XII's urban renewal, alongside the Arco Clementino and the Lazzaretto. After the Jesuits were suppressed in 1773 it passed to the municipality, then to the diocese as its seminary; it was damaged on 1 November 1943 and reopened on 1 September 2011.

The full title is Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù, referring to the name given to Jesus at his circumcision, the subject of Orazio Gentileschi's altarpiece commissioned by Count Giovanni Nappi around 1605. In that painting the face of Saint Cecilia playing the organ is a portrait of the painter's fourteen-year-old daughter Artemisia.

The building sits at an elevated level above the plaza, so comfortable footwear is recommended for navigating the stairs. The higher location offers views across toward the gulf, and several pathways lead to entrances via steps or a side passage.

An octagonal drum sits hidden behind the roofline balustrade, supporting the dome while remaining invisible from below. This concealed architectural element demonstrates how the design integrates the structure with the urban setting.