Organ Week (San Luigi dei Francesi)

An organ festival in the heart of Rome

Organ Week is an international festival that has been bringing the church of San Luigi dei Francesi to life every spring since 2007. Located in the heart of Rome's historic center, just a stone's throw from Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, the church becomes a landmark for organ music enthusiasts for one week, usually in May. The evening concert series blends grand sacred repertoire with the discovery of Baroque and contemporary works.

The historic 1880 Merklin organ

The beating heart of the festival is the precious Merklin organ, built in 1880 by the renowned organ maker Joseph Merklin. It is an instrument of rare tonal quality and one of the most significant examples of the French school in Rome. The entire artistic project, conceived and directed by organist Daniel Matrone, the church's resident organist, revolves around this instrument and its rich palette of colors. The festival highlights this unique instrumental heritage, allowing it to resonate beneath the vaults that also house the famous cycle of paintings by Caravaggio dedicated to Saint Matthew.

Renowned international organists

Each edition features four concerts entrusted to leading international organists, with a strong connection to France. Over the years, the festival has hosted titular organists from prestigious Parisian churches, young talents from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (CNSMDP), and Italian soloists. Programs often pair the organ with other instruments, such as the trumpet, or with bands and choirs, creating emotionally powerful evenings. Organ Week is one of the longest-running organ festivals in the capital and the Lazio region.

A French legacy in Rome

The festival is organized by the Pii Stabilimenti della Francia a Roma e Loreto in collaboration with the Institut français – Centre Saint-Louis, serving as a testament to the ancient bond between France and this corner of Rome. San Luigi dei Francesi is the national church of the French community in the Eternal City, and the festival renews its cultural vocation every year through spirituality, art, and music. In 2025, the festival was included among the cultural events of the Jubilee.

Admission and atmosphere

Concerts are held in the evening, typically at 8:30 PM, in an intimate and evocative atmosphere. Admission is free until capacity is reached. Attending a concert during Organ Week means experiencing Rome from a privileged perspective: grand music resonating in one of the most beloved art treasures of the Province of Rome, right in the historic center, within one of the city's most visited churches.