Church of Saint Barnaba, former Baroque church in Brescia, Italy

The Church of Saint Barnaba on Corso Magenta has a flat facade of pale stone in stacked tiers. The lower tier has a wooden double door with a carved stone frame, flanked by pilasters and arched niches with statues; above are a sculpted crest and a garland. The upper tier has a large rectangular window with small panes, flanked by statue niches, and a projecting cornice at the top.

Bishop Berardo Maggi had the church and convent rebuilt in the 1290s and gave them to the Augustinian Hermits; by 1302 the church was attached to their convent. The Augustinians were expelled from Brescia in 1457 and replaced by the Observance of Lombardy, who built a library in 1490. The Baroque interior and marble facade were rebuilt between 1632 and 1659, probably to a design by Antonio Comino. The friars requested suppression of the convent in 1797.

The church is dedicated to Saint Barnabas, the apostle from Cyprus traditionally credited with introducing Paul to the other apostles. Angela Merici, later canonized, lived in the neighbourhood and attended Mass here; it is said she levitated during the blessing of the Eucharist. The cloisters now house the Luca Marenzio Conservatory.

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.

The 1490 library added by the Observant Augustinians held a fresco cycle on the life of Saint Augustine by Giovanni Pietro da Cemmo. The monastery was suppressed in 1797 at the friars' own request, and they were declared "benefactors of the fatherland". The cloisters now belong to the Luca Marenzio Conservatory.