Church of Saint Agatha, Gothic Catholic church in Brescia, Italy

The Church of Saint Agatha is a Gothic church building in Brescia featuring Italian Gothic architecture with Renaissance details on its facade. The interior contains Baroque statues adorning the exterior walls and a main altar decorated with religious artwork from different periods.

A church stood here by the 8th century, outside the city walls; the 1184 fire that destroyed the Cordusio suburb damaged or destroyed it. The present Gothic building dates from the late 15th century: in 1438 the provost Giovanni Navio da Asola was authorised to build a new apse over the Garza stream, and in 1471 Count Bartolomeo Martinengo left money to finish the cappella magna.

The church is named after Saint Agatha, a Sicilian martyr invoked against fires, which made her a popular patron in medieval suburbs built of wood. The 1184 fire that damaged the church is a noted irony. The 1522 altarpiece by Francesco Prata shows her with Saints Peter, Paul, Lucia and Apollonia.

The building is easy to find in the central area of Brescia and sits near well-known public spaces. Visitors should dress respectfully and observe the quiet conduct expected inside a place of worship.

The 15th-century apse was built over the Garza stream, which once ran past the church. Its two tall windows are framed outside by a band of glazed ceramic tiles that still survives. The church is also paradoxical: Saint Agatha was invoked against fires, yet fire destroyed the earlier building in 1184.