The monastery of S. Maria del Carmine - existing site of the municipal library and the archaeological museum - was founded by Carmelite monks in 1472. The adjacent church, later deconsecrated and now used as a cinema was, at that time, dedicated to St Mary Senioribus. The square-shaped monastery with five arches on each side and twenty columns, was already complete by at least 1547. The refectory and the chancellery opened onto the cloister. On the first floor two sides of the monastery were occupied by the monks' cells, whilst the other two, facing the church and the lake, were galleries opening out onto the cloisters with stone columns and small arches. A mullioned window with two lights - brought to light by the recent restructuring - was the only opening onto the lake. First the Veneto Republic in 1768, and later the Brescian one in 1797, issued legislative provisions for the suppression of religious groups. Amongst the suppressed groups was the monastery of the Senioribus Barefooted Carmelites of Desenzano which was, at the time, made up of just twelve monks. The monastery was then put up for auction and the church of Santa Maria Dei Senioribus became state property. In 1813 it was sold and put to use as a theatre. The whole building underwent renovation, beginning in 1984.