Oratorio di San Francesco Saverio del Caravita Tours

This 17th-century baroque oratory (small chapel), near the Church of St. Ignatious of Loyola, once hosted a concert by the teenage Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Today, the space in Rome’s historic center, which is decorated with ornate frescoes and gilded stucco, is both a religious site and a venue for opera and ballet performances.

The Basics
Located between the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome’s historic center, the Oratory of St. Francis Xavier del Caravita is home to the Caravita Community, a Catholic church for English speakers in Rome. The building’s interior is an excellent example of Roman Jesuit architecture. It is also particularly well-suited to hosting concerts and performances due to flawless acoustics and clear sight lines from the altar to the seating in the nave.

In addition to religious services, the oratory hosts regular opera and classical music concerts, as well as ballet performances. The venue is very popular, so tickets should be booked in advance to ensure entry. You can also purchase a package tour that includes dinner before the performance.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The dress code for performances is smart casual, but keep in mind that you should dress appropriately for a religious venue.
• Performances are held in the evening and can easily be paired with an early dinner at one of the neighborhood’s many restaurants.
• The venue is accessible to wheelchair users.

How to Get There
The Oratorio di San Francesco Saverio del Caravita is located on Via del Caravita, a short walk from the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and many other highlights in Rome’s historic center. A number of bus routes stop on Via del Corso, a 2-minute walk from the venue.

When to Get There
A variety of concerts—including operas and combined performances of opera and ballet—are held in the oratory on some evenings and usually begin at 8:30pm. Schedules may change, so be sure to check with the venue in advance. Religious services in English are held on Sunday mornings at 11am .

The History of the Oratory of St. Francis Xavier del Caravita
The oratory was built between 1631 and 1633 by the Jesuit Pietro Gravita over the ruins of the 12th-century Church of San Nicola de Forbitoribus. (The name Caravita comes from a mispronunciation of Gravita.) It was established as a Missione Urbana, or a religious community meant for evangelizing to rural travelers who did not have regular access to Catholic services. Over the centuries, the building was the seat of a number of lay religious confraternities and communities; it was restored by the Caravita Community in 2000.