Church of Saint Barnaba

The Church of Saint Barnaba is a former place of worship in Baroque style located on Corso Magenta in central Brescia. The building displays a marble facade and contains multiple cloisters that organize the interior spaces and allow light to reach different areas.

Bishop Berardo Maggi founded the church in 1299, replacing an earlier structure that may have stood on the remains of a temple to Hercules. Between 1632 and 1659 the interior was extensively redesigned and adorned with elaborate Baroque decoration and architectural features.

The church is named after Saint Barnabas, an early Christian apostle whose veneration was common in medieval times. Today the conversion into a music conservatory has transformed the sacred spaces into venues where performances and rehearsals take place regularly.

The building now functions as an auditorium and houses the Luca Marenzio Conservatory, which regularly hosts musical performances and cultural events. Access may be limited to specific event dates and times, so it is wise to check in advance whether a visit is possible.

More than 500 years ago the artist Giovanni Pietro da Cemmo created a series of frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Saint Augustine. These works once decorated the monastery library and show the artistic importance the building held during the Renaissance.