The church houses the high altar, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and the great altarpiece, by Pietro Berrettini da Cortona, depicting the Apparizione di Cristo a Sant’Ignazio.
While the construction of the Jesuit College began in 1641, and work on the Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola began in 1647, the latter was subsequently consecrated to the Spirito Santo in 1774 and represented a “new” building for Pistoia with respect to other works that were being carried out on buildings of medieval origins.
The large hall contains Roman Baroque decorative elements. Lodovico Gemignani, one of the artists who worked for Giulio Rospigliosi, was commissioned by the Cardinal to paint three paintings for his family’s chapel, while in 1664 he also commissioned the construction of the majestic Hermans organ.
But the church’s most prominent artwork is by far the high altar, for which Giulio Rospigliosi turned to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who had it built by Mattia de’ Rossi in 1670. On the altar, the Cardinal placed the great altarpiece by Pietro Berrettini da Cortona, depicting the Apparizione di Cristo a Sant’Ignazio. On the side of the church is the Palace of the Rospigliosi family.
