Church of San Barnaba

The Church of San Barnaba is a former church located on Campo San Barnaba in the Dorsoduro district of Venice, Italy. A church has stood on the site since the medieval period, with an early building destroyed by fire in 1105 and a later church constructed in the fourteenth century. The present building was completed in 1776 to designs by architect Lorenzo Boschetti. Its Neoclassical façade, faced in Istrian stone and dominated by columns and a triangular pediment, overlooks the Rio di San Barnaba, while the detached bell tower preserves much older medieval fabric. The church is no longer used for regular worship and has subsequently been used as an exhibition space.

The Church of San Barnaba has appeared in Summertime (1955), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Italian Job (2003) and Casino Royale (2006). Its most prominent screen role is in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where the church is transformed into a Venetian library.

In Summertime (1955), the Church of San Barnaba is visible during the scenes around Renato de Rossi’s antique shop in Campo San Barnaba. Jane Hudson returns to the area and attempts to film the shop with her movie camera. While walking backwards to frame her shot, she steps into the Rio di San Barnaba and falls into the canal, attracting a crowd of onlookers. The façade of the church is clearly visible across the campo during this sequence, making it part of one of the film’s best-known Venice locations.

In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), the Church of San Barnaba appears as the fictional Biblioteca di San Barnaba. Indiana Jones, Marcus Brody and Elsa Schneider arrive at the building while searching for clues left by Indiana’s missing father, Henry Jones. The church façade provides the exterior of the library, and Indiana and Elsa enter through its main doorway before discovering the Roman numeral clues that lead them beneath the building in search of the tomb of Sir Richard. The library interior and the extensive catacombs beneath it were studio sets rather than the real church. After escaping the catacombs, Indiana later emerges through a manhole in Campo San Barnaba outside.

In The Italian Job (2003), the Church of San Barnaba appears during the opening Venice heist. Left Ear and Handsome Rob wait in Campo San Barnaba for the rest of Charlie Croker’s team, with Left Ear reading How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci. John Bridger and Charlie join them before the group boards a boat and heads towards the building containing the gold they intend to steal. The church and surrounding campo provide the recognisable backdrop to the meeting before the robbery begins.

In Casino Royale (2006), the Church of San Barnaba appears during Bond’s pursuit of Vesper Lynd through Venice. After discovering that money from the poker winnings has been withdrawn, Bond follows Vesper as she carries a metal briefcase through the city. She crosses the bridge into Campo San Barnaba and walks across the square on her way towards the meeting that ultimately leads Bond to Gettler and his men. The church façade is visible as part of the real Campo San Barnaba during the sequence.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

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