Brescia is worth a visit! City of Brescia (Italy): brief information about the settlement and its attractions The population of Brescia Italy.

“Lombards in Italy: places of power” - this is the name of the architectural monuments in the center of Brescia, included in the list of UNESCO cultural heritage. But Brescia, the "Italian Lioness", is not only the memory of bygone eras. Here are at least ten more reasons to visit this wonderful city of Lombardy.

Historical Center

However, let's start with the Lombards. On the Roman Forum Square there is an archaeological site of two large monasteries: San Salvatore and Santa Giulia, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Lombards in Italy: Places of Power site. Once here, you understand that this name was not given by chance: the giant public buildings of the era of Ancient Rome and the basilica, built at the behest of the Lombard king Desiderio, amaze the imagination. This is a truly magnificent example of early medieval architecture. Nearby you can see the ruins of the Capitol, an ancient Roman temple overlooking Piazza del Foro, and next to it, an ancient Roman theater. Corso Zanardelli is a shopping pedestrian street that crosses the entire city. Don't miss the Teatro Grande, one of Italy's leading theaters, hosting numerous concerts and festivals, named after Napoleon Bonaparte.

Cathedrals

There are two cathedrals in Brescia - the Duomo Vecchio and the Duomo Nuovo, built at different times. They are located very close and involuntarily compete for the title of the most beautiful. Both are worth a visit: they are beautiful, diverse, and contain many pieces of art. In the new cathedral, attention is drawn to the solemn dome painted on the inside, the altar by Jacopo Palma the Younger and the ancient wind organ, and in the old one, the picturesque crypt of San Filastrio and the parterre of St. Mary, located in the center of the temple. Both cathedrals are located on the picturesque Piazza Paolo VI, one of the main squares in the city. It is named after Pope Paul VI, who was originally from Brescia. From here you have an excellent view of many palazzos, including Broletto, where the city administration is now located, the Grida loggia and the Pegol tower. The best part is that you can admire the views at a table in one of the many restaurants! There are also many beautiful churches in Brescia: San Giovanni Evangelista, San Francesco, Santa Maria delle Grazie are the most famous of them.

Treasures of churches

Church of Santa Maria in Solario

Entering the church of Santa Maria in Solario, you find yourself surrounded by magnificent frescoes by Floriano Ferramola that adorn the walls and vault of the church. And in the very center of the temple is the Desiderio Cross, a masterpiece of the Lombard jewelers, completely covered with gems, cameos and colored glass. Following the route of the Santa Giulia Museum, it is worth admiring the richly decorated tombstones of the Lombards, including the Mausoleum of Martinengo and the monument to Nicolò Orsini, as well as jewels, armor, frescoes and the statue of the winged victory, the symbol of Brescia. The city has not ceased to develop for three thousand years, so its streets are a real mixture of architectural styles. For the same reason, there are so many archaeological sites here, for example, the excavations of the "domuses of Ortaglia" - well-preserved dwellings of the ancient Roman era, located under the museum.

Vintage cars

Love vintage cars? Do you follow car racing? Then Brescia is the city for you. This is the start of the legendary vintage car rally, the Mille Miglia, or Thousand Miles, which runs across Italy to Rome and back. It was thanks to this race that such brands as Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Ferrari were once famous. The race takes place annually, in May, but if you didn’t manage to catch it, don’t be discouraged: the Mille Miglia Museum has been opened in the city, where its special atmosphere is recreated and you can learn all the most interesting about each race since 1927. Naturally, there you can also admire the old cars in which the athletes competed at a distance.

squares

Piazza della Loggia

Piazza della Loggia is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful squares in the city, unmistakably recognizable by the Renaissance palazzo that now houses the municipality. However, its main attraction is the astronomical clock tower, which rises directly opposite the Loggia. On its top there are two bronze figures, which beat the bell day after day, informing everyone about the current time. After seeing the square, take a break from cultural tourism with a shopping spree at Portici Dieci Giornata (it. "Porticos of Ten Days"). This place got its name in honor of the uprising against the Austrians in 1849. From Piazza della Loggia to the Pallato Tower, it's only a few minutes' walk. Admire the Fountain of Allegories and here is a new square in front of you: Piazza Vittoria, a typical example of Fascist architecture. It still bears a red stone arengarium from which various speakers, including Benito Mussolini, spoke during city meetings.

Undoubtedly, it is worth a look at Piazzale Arnaldo, famous for its numerous bars and restaurants. It offers an excellent view of the nearby hills and the monument to the monk Arnaldo da Brescia.

lakes

Brescia is also famous for its lakes nestled between mountains and hills covered with vineyards. It is important that they are easily accessible from the city. On the first of them, Iseo, there are two picturesque towns, Lovere and Pisogne. If desired, the boat will take you to the island of Monte Isola, where time seems to have stopped several centuries ago. Wander through the fishing villages, olive groves, admire from above the panorama of the temple in Cheriol. Try sun-dried fish, a local specialty, as well as a local dry-cured salami made from coarsely ground minced meat. Another lake, Garda, is a prestigious resort, the largest lake in Italy. Lemon and olive groves grow on its banks. Sirmione, Desenzano Gardone Riviera, Lazise and Riva del Garda are the most famous coastal towns that attract many tourists here. Particularly picturesque is Sirmione, located on a narrow peninsula, with its fortress of Rocca Scaliera, churches, a palazzo and a grotto of Catullus, the domus of the famous ancient Roman poet. This place is located on the very edge of the peninsula. After seeing the town, you can relax in the ancient thermal spa and see the healing properties of the water of the Boyola spring.

Panorama from the ancient castle

Castello di Brescia / Foto: Shutterstock.com

Leaving the old town and climbing to the top of the Cidneo hill, you find yourself at the Castello di Brescia, one of the best preserved ancient fortresses in northern Italy. There are two interesting museums here: "Unification of Italy" and "Arms". However, most often they rise here for the sake of a great view: from this point a magnificent panorama of the city opens up.

Villa D'Annunzio

On the shores of Lake Garda lived the famous writer, poet and aviator Gabriele d'Annunzio, who built a luxurious residence in Gardone Riviera, Vittoriale degli Italiani, which became a monument to his amazing life. The quaint villa is open to the public: in its garden you can see a real ship and submarine from the early 20th century.

Sparkling wines Franciacorta

Manicured vineyards, ancient residences, famous wineries, castles and DOCG wines… What more could you ask for? This is Franciacorta, an area famous for its sparkling wines, located in the hills near Lake Iseo. It is especially pleasant to ride a bicycle along it: all the more so because there is a whole network of bike paths among green fields surrounded by mountains ... Taste local wines: Rosé, Satèn and Millesimato (the so-called wines of a certain vintage). They are especially good with local cheeses and jams. However, in Lombardy excellent wines are made not only in Franciacorte. Each region boasts excellent wine, such as the red Bardolino DOC, which is produced on Lake Garda. It is absolutely impossible to visit Brescia and not drink the traditional Pirlo aperitif in one of its squares. This white wine and Campari cocktail was even featured in The New York Times.

Kitchen

The cuisine of Brescia is hearty dishes and excellent wine: an excellent combination for adherents of gastronomic tourism. Perhaps the most characteristic restaurants are not in the city itself, but in the surrounding towns on the side of the lake or mountains. Local cuisine is based on two things: products of the fields and lake fish. The list of local delicacies turns out to be rather big: these are “casoncelli” from Barbariga, and risotto from Pitocchi, “malfatti”, polenta with buckwheat flour, cured sausages and excellent cheeses (“Rosa Camuna” and “Bagoss”). The Birbes bakery is located in the center of Brescia. Every day, an unusual pizza is prepared here, which has already become legendary, which the locals simply adore!

Brescia is a large Italian city located in the foothills of the Alps, between the two lakes of Garda and Iseo. Brescia is considered a city of developed industry and universities, however, there are enough attractions here, because its history goes back to the 12th century BC. It is the age that makes it one of the most magnificent historical centers in Lombardy.

What to see in Brescia on your own?

Beautiful places and main attractions: photos with descriptions in Russian.

Brescia Castle

At the very top of the hill called Colle Chidneo is one of the most interesting sights of the city - Brescia Castle (in Italian Brescia Castle). It was erected in the 12th century, but additional construction and reconstruction lasted for about two hundred years. The oldest part of the castle is considered to be a cylindrical tower, which was erected on the site of a destroyed ancient Roman building.

In the 14th century, the building was significantly expanded and two more towers were built, the walls were heavily fortified. The central keep of the building has a very impressive and severe appearance. Inside the castle there are two museums - the Risorgimento and the Museum of Weapons named after Luigi Marzoli. The vast territory has been turned into a beautiful park where you can walk and ride a bike along specially equipped paths. From the observation decks of the castle, a magnificent view of the immediate surroundings and the city opens up.

• Address: Via del Castello 9, Brescia, Italy

Monastery complex of San Salvatore

The most unique place in the city is the monastery complex of San Salvatore (in Italian Il complesso monastico di San Salvatore). It combines buildings from different historical eras. In it you can see buildings erected in the Renaissance style, in the Romanesque and pre-Romanesque styles, as well as fragments of ancient Roman architecture.

The complex was founded in 753 by King Desiderius and his wife to create a nunnery here. During its history, the premises have been rebuilt several times. In the 12th century, a dormitory (sleeping rooms) was erected on the territory of the complex.

Currently, the monastery consists of several buildings. The most important building of the complex is the Basilica of San Salvatore, built in the 9th century. Nearby is a bell tower dating from the 13th-14th century. The chapel of the 15th century and the church of Santa Giulia, built in 1599, have been preserved in excellent condition. A separate room is occupied by a museum, which stores objects from the Bronze Age.

• Address: Via Piamarta, Brescia, Italy

Lake Idro

In the foothills of the Alps, there is a picturesque fresh lake Idro (in Italian Lago di Idro). It is of glacial origin and is formed by the Chiese River, which flows through the entire lake. Its area is more than 11 square kilometers, and the depth of individual sections reaches 122 meters.

The lake is very popular among professionals and amateurs of skiing, rafting, mountain biking and all kinds of water sports. Due to its location, Idro has a unique landscape, which in turn creates a unique landscape. On its territory you can see a large number of rare species of fauna and flora.

Several hiking trails are laid along the lake, a walk along which gives you the opportunity to fully enjoy the amazing nature and the purest mountain air. Idro is connected by road to the nearest major airports, which makes it even more attractive for tourists.

• Address: Brescia, Italy

Capitol

The most ancient landmark of Brescia is the Capitol (in Italian Tempio Capitolino). It was erected in 73 AD. on the site of a destroyed ancient Roman temple. At one time, the Capitol was the religious center of the city. It was discovered during archaeological excavations in 1823, which were carried out in this place.

Scientists have established that the original Capitol consisted of 4 halls, one of which was demolished to build an amphitheater. Ancient religious ceremonies dedicated to some deity were held in the premises. It may have been the Celtic god Hercules, as the Capitol is sometimes referred to as the Temple of Hercules.

During excavations in the 19th century, archaeologists discovered parts of a huge marble sculpture. Some researchers are sure that this is Jupiter, sitting on his big throne. At present, here you can see the ruins of several buildings, which provide an opportunity to look into history.

• Address: Piazza Del Foto | Via Musei, Brescia, Italy

Tosio Martinengo Art Gallery

On Piazza Moretto in the palazzo, named after Martinengo da Barco, one of the most informative sights of the city is located - the Pinacoteca or the art gallery of Tosio Martinengo (in Italian Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo). It was created in 1908 by combining two collections of Counts Francesco Leopardo Martinengo and Paolo Tosio. Over time, the exposition was replenished with other works of art.

The Pinakothek consists of 25 rooms for thematic exhibitions. Here you can see art objects of the 13th-18th centuries. The gallery contains beautiful paintings by the greatest painters - Tintoretto, Raffaello Sanzio, Savoldo, Vincenzo Foppa and many others. Particular attention is drawn to the collection of graphic drawings, numbering about 3 thousand exhibits. Currently, the Pinacoteca has one of the largest and most amazing collections of paintings by Italian artists.

• Address: Piazza Moretto 4 | Palazzo Martinengo da Barco, Brescia, Italy

Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli

One of the most beautiful buildings in the city is the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (in Italian Chiesa Santa Maria dei Miracoli). Its first project was created at the end of the 15th century by Ludovico Beretta, but during the construction process it was significantly changed. The church was the creation of 16 masters, including the famous architect Giovanni Antonio Amadeo.

The facade of the building is distinguished by a large number of decorative elements. Here you can see beautiful marble bas-reliefs, columns, an elegant portico and beautiful sculptures. The church was erected to store the miraculous icon. The interior decoration is represented by magnificent frescoes by the artist Grazio Cossali.

During the bombing during the Second World War, the stunning facade of the building was protected by wooden scaffolding, but the interior of the premises was badly damaged. Over time, it was completely restored, and the church returned to its original splendor.

• Address: Corso Martiri della Liberta, Brescia, Italy

Petroglyphs of the Val Camonica

In the suburbs of Brescia, you can see beautiful examples of rock paintings, which are called the petroglyphs of the Val Camonica valley (in Italian Stone carvings of Val Camonica). Their collection is one of the largest in the world and consists of 300,000 symbols and figurines. They are located throughout the valley.

Most of the rock paintings date back to the Iron Age. For the first time petroglyphs were discovered in 1909 by a local resident Walter Leng, who saw unusual signs on two large boulders. Exploration of stones in this valley began only 10 years later, and over time, a large number of other stone blocks with symbols were found.

It was decided to create a permanent expedition, which is engaged in the study of petroglyphs, and also catalogs them. The study of ancient symbols continues at the present time. Visitors to the valley can see with their own eyes prehistoric drawings that are about three thousand years old.

• Address: Brescia, Italy

Luigi Marzoli Arms Museum

In one of the premises of the castle of Brescia, there is a museum of arms of Luigi Marzoli, very popular with tourists (in Italian, Museo delle Armi Luigi Marzoli). It was opened in 1988 thanks to Carlo Scarpa. The oldest weapons and equipment date back to the 11th century. They were collected by a local resident, Luigi Marzoli, after whom the museum was named.

Of great interest to visitors is the hall of weapons of the 15th century. Here you can see very rare items - a Venetian helmet and a sword. In the hall of the 16th century, a reconstruction with foot and horse soldiers makes a great impression. Since it was customary at that time to show one's status, some shields are decorated with gold.

The museum houses an impressive collection of firearms from various eras: muskets, guns, halberds and others. The collection of armor and weapons is considered one of the largest not only in Italy, but also in Europe.

Rezzato

Not far from Brescia is the small town of Rezzato (in Italian Rezzato). It is famous for its marble deposits and for its skillful stone cutters. In 1839, thanks to the local architect Rudolfo Vantini, a school-workshop was opened in the building of the City Hall, where they taught the art of marble carving. It has survived to the present day and is named after the founder.

Villa Avogadro Fenaroli is located in the suburbs of Rezzato. For 400 years it has been the residence of the wealthy families of Brescia. Its main premises were built in the 16th century, and the magnificent greenhouses - in the middle of the 19th century. The main attraction of Rezzato is the prehistoric cave of Ca'dei Grii, which is located on the slopes of Mount Regogna.

According to archaeological finds, the cave appeared in the Neolithic period and was used by primitive people as a dwelling. These artifacts are the oldest items found in the province of Brescia. Rezzato is one of the main marble quarries in Italy.

• Address: Rezzato, Brescia, Italy

Temple of Minerva

Not far from the city of Brescia, in an amazing place called Spinera, there is an ancient Roman temple of Minerva (in Italian Santuario di Minerva). During the Iron Age, there was a site for religious rites and ceremonies. In the 1st century, on the site of the destroyed sanctuary, a temple was erected in honor of the goddess Minerva. It was located on the banks of the Ollo River and partially abutted against the slope of the cliff. A statue of the goddess was placed in the great hall.

In the 4th century, the cult of Minerva ceased to exist and the temple was abandoned, and a hundred years later it was almost destroyed by a big fire. In 1986, the ruins were accidentally discovered while pipes were being laid. During the reconstruction at the beginning of the 21st century, the temple was completely restored, a museum was made in it, and a copy of the ancient statue of Minerva was installed in the center of the hall.

• Address: Localita Spinera, Breno, Brescia, Italy

Museum of the Risorgimento

In one part of the Brescia castle called Grande Miglio, there is the Risorgimento Museum (in Italian Museo del Risorgimento). It was opened in 2005 and is dedicated to the events of the mid-19th century during the struggle for the unification of Italy. Its collection consists of a large number of exhibits that reflect the mood of that era.

Portraits, printed publications, patriotic appeals, official announcements and many other memorabilia are kept here. Much attention in the exhibition is given to the formation of the Republic of Brescia in 1797. In the museum you can see items that relate to the Great Battle or Grande Battaglia - geographical maps with marks, army flags, sculptures, paintings and much more. In addition, the illustrations of those events convey all the horrors of the battle, and also show the role of the province of Brescia, which has turned into an open-air hospital for wounded soldiers.

• Address: Via Castello, 9, Brescia, Italy
• Opening hours: Tue - Fri 9:30 - 13:00, Sat - Sun 14:30 - 18:00
• Entrance ticket price: 4 euros

Church of Santi Nazaro e Celso

On the city street with the name Corso Giacomo Matteotti is the Church of Santi Nazaro e Celso (in Italian: Chiesa dei Santi Nazaro e Celso). It was founded in 1239. In the middle of the 18th century, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out in it.

The façade is made of gray stone in a neoclassical architectural style and topped with magnificent statues. Decorative elements are made of black stone, which gives the building a stunning look. In 1863, an organ built by Luigi Amati was installed in the church.

Above the main altar is the most important attraction of the church - "Averoldi Polyptych", which was completed by the famous painter Titian in 1522. In addition to it, the walls are decorated with works by local artists - Lattanzio Gambar, Antonio Gandino, Moretto and many others.

• Address: Corso Giacomo Matteotti, Brescia, Italy

Broletto

In the center of the city there is a whole complex of buildings, which was called Broletto (in Italian Broletto). It came from the Celtic language and was originally translated as "garden", but over time its meaning changed and began to mean "a place where justice is done."

The main building of the complex is the palace. It was erected at the end of the 12th century from wood, and then in 1227 the building was rebuilt from stone. Gradually, other structures were added to the palace, including the Torre Poncarali tower. In the 16th century, Broletto's premises were used for court hearings. During its history, the appearance of buildings has changed several times.

The architecture of the complex is dominated by the Gothic style with neoclassical elements. A striking example of the latter is the spiral staircase made by Leopoldo Pollack. Particular attention is drawn to the Loggia delle Grida, which was built in the 13th century, and then completely restored after destruction at the beginning of the 20th century.

Church of Pieve di San Siro

In a small settlement called Chemmo, there is the church of Pieve di San Siro (in Italian: Chiesa Pieve di San Siro). It was founded in the 11th century on the site of an ancient Roman building of the 8th-9th centuries. A bell tower, which was erected in the 15th century, adjoins the building.

In 1912, large-scale restoration work took place in the church, and at the end of the 20th century, the foundations of the main building and the bell tower were strengthened. The church consists of three apses and a portal on the south side. It is decorated with various symbols and a magnificent plot of flowers. Near the back wall there are a large number of steps, which used to be people ready to take the sacrament.

The church has a huge baptismal font. Some scholars suggest that it was made from a medieval or ancient Greek grape press. The church is located in a secluded and very picturesque place. It can only be reached by a staircase, which was built in 1930.

• Address: Frazione di Cemmo di Capo di Ponte, Capo di Ponte, Brescia, Italy
• Opening hours: Mon - Sun 9:00-18:00

Old Cathedral of Brescia

On the Cathedral Square of the city there is a large stone building - the Old Cathedral of Brescia (in Italian Duomo Vecchio di Brescia). The locals gave it the second name "La Rotonda" for its unusual appearance and round shape. It was founded at the end of the 11th century on the ruins of an old church from the 7th century.

The facade of the building is made in the Romanesque architectural style. The inner space is formed by a hemispherical dome, which rests on 8 arches, decorated with pilasters. Particular attention is drawn to the sarcophagus of Berardo Maggi, who was the bishop of the city at the end of the 13th century. It is made of red marble and is located at the central portico. The cathedral houses works by local artist Moretto. A special atmosphere is created by the ancient organ, which was made by Antegnati in 1536. Now the cathedral continues to receive parishioners and hold services.

• Address: Piazza del Duomo 1, Brescia, Italy

New Cathedral or Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

Not far from the Old Cathedral on the square in honor of Paolo VI is the New Cathedral or the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (in Italian Duomo Nuovo e Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta). It was founded in the 17th century, but due to the constant lack of money for construction, the cathedral was completed only in the 19th century.

The new cathedral was erected to fulfill the functions of the Old one, but the locals did not want to destroy the old cathedral. The facade of the building is made of late baroque marble. The cathedral is considered one of the highest in Italy, since the height of its dome is about 91 meters. The interior decoration is represented by magnificent frescoes by an artist from Brescia named Moretto.

One of the revered Christian relics is kept in the cathedral - the reliquary with the relics of St. Apollonius, which was transferred from the Christian basilica that stood on this site.

• Address: Piazza Paolo VI, Brescia, Italy
• Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8:00-12:00, 16:00-19:30

Piazza della Loggia

The most beautiful place in the city is Piazza della Loggia (in Italian Piazza della Loggia). It was founded at the end of the 15th century, although the first projects for its construction appeared much earlier. The main decoration of the square is the Palazzo della Loggia.

The building of the 16th century, made in the Renaissance style, is the center of the administrative life of all residents of the city for a long period of time. Now the palazzo is the municipality of Brascia. In addition to it, you can see other buildings on the square that date back to the 16th century.

In the very center of Piazza della Loggia there is a magnificent statue made of stone. In the eastern part of the town square there is a long colonnade, on top of which there is a large clock from the 16th century. The square is one of the most crowded in Brescia, as it connects several tourist routes.

• Address: Piazza della Loggia, Brescia, Italy

Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

On the city square of the same name is the church of St. Francis of Assisi (in Italian: Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi). It was founded in the middle of the 13th century, but was greatly expanded in the following centuries. It was supplemented with a chapel and presbytery. At that time, the facade of the building combined elements of two architectural styles - Gothic and Romanesque.

In the 19th century, the church underwent a major renovation under the direction of Rodolfo Vantini, who changed the style of the façade to neoclassical. In the 14th and 15th centuries, all the interior walls were decorated with magnificent frescoes. Unfortunately, at present, only the paintings on the right side of the nave have been preserved. Particular attention of visitors is attracted by the main altar, which was made in the 15th century.

• Address: Piazzetta San Francesco d "Assisi, Brescia, Italy

Tower della Palata

One of the most popular attractions in Brescia is the Tower della Palata (in Italian: Torre della Palata). It was erected in 1248 from the materials of the destroyed Roman buildings. It is a square tower, the upper part of which is decorated with jagged elements. The diameter of its base is more than 10 meters, and the height is 31 meters.

During its history, the tower changed its function many times: it housed the city treasury, a food warehouse, and a prison. In the 15th century, a bell tower was built on the tower. In the 16th century, a fountain of peace was built into the base of the building, which was designed by Pietro Maria Bagnatore in the Mannerist style. It is decorated with sculptures that symbolize the city itself and the two rivers Hartsu and Mella. The tower has a round clock that shows the exact time.

• Address: Corso Garibaldi, Brescia, Italy

Church of Corpo di Cristo

On the territory of the monastery, which was built in the 15th century, is the church of Corpo di Cristo (in Italian: Chiesa del Santissimo Corpo di Cristo). It was erected in the 16th century on the foundations of destroyed Roman religious buildings.

The facade of the building is made of gray stone and red brick. It is characterized by simplicity and rigor due to the absence of numerous architectural elements of decor. Much attention is drawn to the front door made of marble, decorated with intricate relief and coats of arms of the Martinengo family.

The interior is represented by one nave. A strong impression is made by the abundance of frescoes on the camps. Their main part was made by the artist Benedetto da Marone in the 16th century, and then they were supplemented by paintings by the painter Pietro Maria Vagnadore. All frescoes have been preserved in good condition to this day.

• Address: Via Giovanni Piamarta 9, Brescia, Italy

Theater Grande

On one of the city streets called Via Paganora, the main theater of Brescia is located - the Bolshoi Theater or Grande (in Italian Teatro Grande). It was erected in 1664. The appearance of the theater is characterized by the absence of a large amount of decor, so it is a bit lost against the background of other buildings.

In the 18th century, a major reconstruction was carried out in the theater building under the guidance of the architect Manfredi. The interior walls and ceiling of the main hall are decorated with magnificent 19th-century frescoes by Francesco Tellaroli and Giuseppe Teos.

Currently, the theater hosts concerts of classical music by well-known Italian orchestras, performances by contemporary performers. In addition, various thematic exhibitions are organized in its premises, as well as seminars and educational circles for children.

• Address: Via Paganora 19/a, Brescia, Italy

Church of San Faustino in Riposo

On Museum Street there is a small round church of San Faustino in Riposo (Chiesa di San Faustino in Riposo in Italian). It was founded in the 12th century and named after the patron saint of Brescia. According to legend, the relics of St. Faustino were transferred to the new church from the cemetery, when suddenly they began to bleed.

In this significant place for believers, a chapel was built, which was named after the saint. In the 12th century, it was destroyed by a great fire, and a modern church was erected on this site. The facade of the building is made in the Romanesque architectural style. The church has a very small size - the diameter of its base is only 2.5 meters.

The interior is made in the Baroque style. In the church you can see the image of St. Xenia of Petersburg, made by the monk Angelo Lanfranchi. It was created after the transfer to Brescia of the remains of fellow prisoners of war who died in Russia.

• Address: Via Dei Musei 1, Brescia, Italy

Cemetery of Vantiniano

One of the attractions of Brescia is the Monumental Cemetery or Vantiniano Cemetery (in Italian Cimitero Vantiniano). It appeared in the early 19th century by order of Napoleon Bonaparte. At that time, it was forbidden to create burials within the city, so the dead were buried in the field behind the Gate to Milan (in Italian: Porta Milano).

Initially, the graves were in complete disarray, until in 1813 the architect Rodolfo Vantini was commissioned to design a new cemetery. Its construction continued until 1864, even after the death of Vantini, after whom it was named later. On the territory of the cemetery there is a chapel with a 60-meter column with a lighthouse on top and the chapel of St. Michael.

There are a large number of majestic crypts and magnificent tomb sculptures. The cemetery impresses with its silent calmness and monumentality. A special atmosphere arises here, when two worlds - the living and the dead, are intertwined with each other, and this line becomes very thin.

• Address: Via Milano 17, Brescia, Italy

Church of San Lorenzo

One of the most beautiful churches in the city is located on Moretto Street - the Church of San Lorenzo (in Italian: Chiesa di San Lorenzo). It was founded in 1763 by the architect Giovanni Pietro Dolphin on the site of an old church from the 11th century, which was in a terrible state due to constant dampness from a nearby stream. The facade of the building was built in the Baroque style. It is decorated with graceful semi-columns, beautiful pilasters and arches.

The interior of the church is divided into a large central nave and seven small chapels. They are distinguished by a large number of decorative elements - elegant stucco, columns, magnificent frescoes and beautiful paintings. The main altar is made of yellow and green marble by the famous sculptor Lorenzo Palazzi. It is decorated with jasper, gold and lapis lazuli. The antique organ, which was made in 1864, creates a special atmosphere.

• Address: Via Moretto 55, 25121 Brescia, Italy

Monument to Tito Speri

In a small square in the city center there is a monument to Tito Speri (in Italian: Monumento a Tito Speri). It was made by the sculptor Domenico Gidoni in 1888 according to the design of the artist Antonio Taglyferri. The monument was erected in honor of a local Renaissance hero. He was a participant in the Italian struggle for independence. Speri led a mutiny in the city against the Austrian army, after which he was imprisoned for his organization.

After the completion of the trial, Tito was sentenced to death and hanged in 1853. His grave is still in the city cemetery. The monument was erected at the place where the bloody 10-day battle between the rebels and the Austrian troops took place. Later, this small square will be named after the patriot Tito Speri.

• Address: Via Dei Musei 31, 25121 Brescia, Italy

Monument "Dog Grave"

On Via Panoramica there is a monument with a very unusual name "Grave of the Dog" (in Italian Grave of the Dog). It was erected in 1860 as a mausoleum for a local resident, Angelo Bonomini, who donated his entire fortune to the Brescia hospital. Naturally, there was no buried dog here. The monument was built in the Neo-Gothic style.

The mausoleum is a base with a small tombstone in the shape of an arch, which is typical for Italian gravestones. The monument is located in a very picturesque place on the hills, from which a magnificent picture of the whole city opens up. Next to it is a large observation deck. It is a very crowded place in the city, not only because of the tourists, but also the locals. People come here to enjoy the beauty of Brescia from a bird's eye view, to take a break from the bustle and noise of the city.

• Address: Via Panoramica, Brescia, Italy

Paolo VI Square

The most visited corner of the city is the central square of Paolo VI (in Italian Piazza Paolo VI). It contains the main attractions of Brescia - the Old Cathedral of the 11th century, the New Cathedral of the 17th century and the Palazzo Broletto of the 13th century.

The square is the administrative center of Brescia - here is the building of the prefecture and the provincial administration. In addition, there are always many believers here, since 2 cathedrals are the largest in the city.

The square is a small rectangular area that appeared in the Middle Ages. Currently, in addition to the main attractions, there are small cozy cafes and souvenir shops. The tables are located right in front of the majestic buildings, which makes it possible to calmly admire the ancient buildings.

• Address: Piazza Paolo VI, Brescia, Italy

Church of San Giuseppe

In the northern part of the city is the Church of San Giuseppe (in Italian Chiesa di San Giuseppe). It was founded in the 16th century. The facade of the building was built in the Renaissance style, it is crowned with three small turrets. The interior of the church is divided into three naves. The vault of the main nave is decorated with geometric patterns and floral ornaments.

A special place is occupied by the organ made in 1581 by Graziadio Antegnati and his son Constanzo. On the sides of the church are small chapels. They are distinguished by numerous decorative elements - stucco, stunning frescoes of the 16th-18th centuries, and paintings by local artists.

Particular attention is drawn to the works of artists Giovanni Antonio Capello about the life of St. Joseph, fragments of the life of St. Apollina by Pietro Scalvini and many others. Currently, one of the premises of the church houses the Diocesan Museum of Religious Art. It contains a collection of items from the 15th-19th centuries that are related to religion.

• Address: Via Gasparo da Salo, Brescia, Italy

Church of San Giovanni Evangelista

The Church of San Giovanni Evangelista (Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista e Battista) is located in the historic district of the city. It was founded in 400 AD. Unfortunately, the first building of the church was destroyed by fire in the 11th century, so the modern building was restored in the 12th-15th centuries. The facade is made in the Gothic architectural style of red brick and white stone.

Next to the main building is a Romanesque bell tower. Inside the church is divided into 3 naves - central and side. They are separated by Gothic terracotta columns. The walls are decorated with many paintings by local artists. The works of Gipolamo Pomanino, Francesco Paglia, Stefano Lamberti and many others attract attention.

• Address: Contrada San Giovanni, 8/12, Brescia, Italy
• Opening hours: Mon 8:30-10:00, Tue-Sun 8:00-11:30, 15:30-18:00

National Museum of Photography

One of the most interesting sights of Brescia is the National Museum of Photography or it is also called the Ken Damy Museum (in Italian Museo Nazionale della Fotografia / Museo Ken Damy). It was opened in 1990, and after 2 years a large cultural association of photographers was formed in it.

The museum is dedicated to modern photography on various topics. Currently, in addition to the main exposition, exhibitions of famous photographers from Italy, as well as from other countries, are held in its premises. In a small museum building, there are always many visitors who are interested in the art of photography. Each of them can find what he likes among a large number of the most diverse subjects.

• Address: Vicolo San Faustino, 2, Brescia, Italy
• Opening hours: Tue - Thu 9:00 - 12:00, Sat - Sun 16:00 - 19:00

Church of Santa Maria del Carmine

Not far from the Pallato Tower is the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine (Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine in Italian). It was founded in 1429 near a Carmelite monastery. The facade of the building is made of stone in the Lombard Gothic style.

In the 16th century, it was greatly changed - large windows were made instead of magnificent lancet arches. The interior of the temple strikes with luxury and colors. Fine stucco is intricately intertwined with magnificent frescoes, which were made in the 15th century.

They are currently in excellent condition. The main attraction of the church is the Averoldi Chapel, the walls of which were painted by the famous artist Vincenuo Foppa. To create a unique atmosphere in the temple there is an old organ, which was made in the Baroque style.

• Address: Vicolo Manzone 7, 25122 Brescia, Italy

Square of victory

The most favorite place for walking among the residents of the city is Victory Square (in Italian Piazza della Vittoria). It appeared in the first half of the 19th century, when some of the dilapidated buildings were demolished. The main buildings around the square were erected during the reign of Mussolini, so they are characterized by restraint, coldness and gloom in architecture.

Most of the buildings were designed by the architect Marcelo Piacentini. The severity of the buildings softens the presence of numerous cozy cafes and restaurants on the ground floor of almost all galleries. Currently, the central post and telegraph office of the province of Brescia is located on the square, the building of which is made of stripes of stones of light and dark colors.

On weekends, festivals and fairs take place on the square. Sometimes a small market of local products is organized here. Under the square there is a large underground parking.

• Address: Piazza della Costituzione 1, Brescia, Italy

Ruins of the Roman theater

Near the Capitol building are the ruins of the Roman theater (in Italian Teatro romano). The theater was built in the 3rd century AD. It became the center of the social and religious life of the locals. Its stage was more than 48 meters long, and the stands could accommodate 15,000 spectators.

The theater was partially damaged by fire a hundred years later, and then was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in the 5th century. Even after that, it continued to be actively used until the end of the 12th century.

People's meetings and discussions were held here. The ruins were discovered along with the Capitol in the 19th century. Now only fragments of the base of the stands and the stage remain from the magnificent building. At present, anyone can see the building, which is more than 1800 years old, imagine it in its heyday and get acquainted with ancient architecture.

• Address: Via Dei Musei 57 | Vicolo Fontanone, Brescia, Italy
• Opening hours: Tue – Sun 9:30 – 17:30

Dungeons of Brescia

Recently, a very unusual tourism in the dungeons of Brescia (in Italian Brescia Underground) is gaining popularity. An underground river flows under the city, which creates a unique landscape. A specially trained guide can lead everyone along the passages, which have hardly been touched by time.

This is a jump into the history of the formation of the city, when this river was on the surface, and a new settlement was gradually born on its banks. Over time, the river went underground, and a small village turned into a big city. In the underground tunnels, you can see all the stages of the expansion of the city. The dungeons start at Victory Square and stretch to the Carmelite Church of Santa Maria. An unusual hike deep into the foundation of the city helps to look at Brescia from a different side, which is not available to most of the inhabitants.

• Address: Via Raffaello 165 | San Polo, 25127 Brescia, Italy

Ambiente Park

In the center of Brescia there is a small green corner - Ambiente Park (in Italian Ambiente Parco). It is one of the most visited places for recreation by locals. There is a very beautiful pond with live fish of different sizes and colors.

There is a wonderful playground nearby, so there are many large families with small children in the park. Around there are several benches for rest. When the weather is nice, creative activities and outdoor games are organized for children. They teach the proper handling of the environment and its protection.

The park provides an opportunity to relax from the hustle and bustle of the city and the constant noise. Among the numerous buildings, the Ambiente Park is a small picturesque oasis of nature, which makes it possible to enjoy peace and serenity.

• Address: Largo Torrelunga 7, Brescia, Italy

Endless valleys and vineyards, cathedrals and palaces, cozy narrow streets and centuries-old buildings - all this deserves to visit Brescia at least once in a lifetime.

I continue my story about Lombardy. We have already walked around the capital of Lombardy, then moved 50 km to the east and looked. It's the turn for the sights of Brescia.

Early in the morning we took a train to Bergamo and an hour later we got off in Brescia (from Milan, the train, respectively, takes 2 hours).
Brescia is located between two large lakes: Garda and Iseo. The famous resort town of Sirmione, located in the south of Lake Garda, can be reached from Brescia by bus in an hour.

Train station in Brescia

There is a tourist office next to the station, where a kind lady gave us some information booklets and maps. On one of the maps, she immediately circled the main sights of Brescia with a felt-tip pen. It seemed to me that tourists here are not too frequent guests. In any case, she was glad to us and provided everything she could.

Map of Brescia with attractions

Expanding the map, we saw that the historic center of Brescia is a square surrounded by boulevards around the perimeter. Previously, fortress walls were located on the site of the boulevards. The old city lies on a plain, and only in its western corner is Cydnean Hill. On this hill, the ancient city was born, later called Brixia by the Romans. Now the Cydney Castle stands on a hill, and a park is laid out around it.

Piazza Vittoria - Mussolini era

Along the main street of Gramci, we reached the spacious Piazza Vittoria. The square was built in the neoclassical style by the chief architect of the Mussolini era, Marcello Piacentini. In Bergamo, the center of the Lower City was also built according to his project.

In Brescia, Victoria Square is no less pompous than the center of Bergamo with the Propylaea. It was built in the 30s of the last century. The central building of the square is the Postal Palace.

Piazza Vittoria. In the center - the Postal Palace, Palazzo del Poste

On both sides of the Post Office Palace there are towers: the brick Torrione and the white marble Tower of the Revolution.

At the foot of the Revolution Tower there is a tribune. Mussolini spoke with her

Torrione

Surprisingly, the architecture of dictatorial regimes in different countries has similar features: pomposity, monumentality, demonstration of power, austerity. Compare the House of German Art in Munich, the Square Colosseum in Rome, VDNH in Moscow, Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Piazza Vittoria in Brescia is from the same row.

Piazza della Loggia - Renaissance

We pass right through Victoria Square and in just a few meters we find ourselves in a completely different era, among the Renaissance buildings of the 15th-16th centuries, lined up along the perimeter of Piazza della Loggia.

Piazza della Loggia

The main building of Piazza della Loggia is the Palazzo Loggia, which now houses the City Hall of Brescia.

Palazzo Loggia

The motto of the city is "Verna Brescia"

Like Bergamo, Brescia became part of the Venetian Republic in the 15th century. For the Venetian podesta (as well as for the meetings of the City Council and the College of Notaries), it was decided to build a proper palace. The design of the palazzo was supposedly owned by Donato Bramante. Antonio Palladio, Leon Battista Alberti, as well as the chief architect of the Venetian Republic, Jacopo Sansovino, acted as architects during the creation of the palace.

The palace is solemn and representative. Two floors. The second floor is raised on arches.

Passing under the arches, we read that the entrance to the palazzo is free, and did not fail to go to the Brescia City Hall.

Climbing up the stairs

At the entrance we were asked what we were on. We said we wanted to see the building. A girl was assigned to us, who led us through the palace. She even led me into the meeting room and showed me the trail of a bomb that hit the palace during World War II.

On the other side of the square, opposite the Loggia, stands an elegant building with an arcade and the Orolodgio clock tower in the middle. On the roof, two time keepers strike the clock - they strike the bell with iron hammers.

Orologio Tower with Keepers of Time

On the right side of the Palazzo della Loggia, an elegant loggia with a small balcony attracts attention.

Next to it are two buildings of Monte di Pieta: Old and New. Entering New Pieta, we discovered wonderful painted wooden ceilings.

On the second floor of the building there was an exhibition of old photographs dedicated to the development of mountaineering in the Alps.

Piazza Paolo 6th (Piazza Duomo) – Medieval

From Piazza Loggia, where the secular authorities of Brescia were located, we moved to the neighboring, narrow, elongated Piazza Papa Paolo 6th, or Piazza Duomo, the spiritual center of medieval Brescia.

Pope Paolo 6th Square

There are two cathedrals on it, Old and New.

The old one is a cylindrical temple of rough gray stone built in the 11th century. Unfortunately, we did not get inside, it was closed.

Old Duomo or Rotunda

The new Duomo, with a high white marble facade, was built from 1604 to 1825.

New Duomo

Pope Paolo 6th is a native of these places. In the world - Giovanni Battista Montini

To the left of the Duomo is the former town hall of the Palazzo dell'Broletto with the Popolo tower (13th century).

Palace of Broletto

Inside the palazzo, a charming courtyard with a fountain has been preserved.

Piazza di Foro - Antiquity

The next Piazza di Foro is much smaller than the previous ones, and once it was the center of the ancient city of Brixia - in the time of the Roman Empire there was a forum here. The Roman Forum was a rectangle 40 by 120 meters, stretched from north to south.

Piazza di Foro

On the northern (highest) side of the forum stood the Capitoline Temple, of which ruins now remain. The dimensions of the ruined temple can be seen from a fragment of a portal with columns.

Ruins of the Capitoline Temple

Unfortunately, we did not get to the territory of the archaeological zone. Entrance under the arches of the Capitol is carried out once an hour with a break for a siesta. The visit lasts 50 minutes and costs 4 euros. We just got in for a siesta. I had to be satisfied with a free visit to the ruins of the Roman theater, which is located right there, behind the houses, to the right of the Capitol.

Roman theater ruins

A basilica once stood on the south side of the forum. Now its remains can be found interspersed with marble slabs in later buildings. Thus, powerful columns can be found among the brickwork, and stone blocks protrude from the plastered wall.

Traces of antiquity can also be found in the surrounding courtyards.

To the left of the ruins of the Capitol stands the 17th century Palazzo Martinengo Cesaresco, which now houses the University of Brescia and exhibition halls. From the side of Piazza Foro, the facade of the palace is unremarkable, and from the side of the Capitol there is a representative portal with eagles.

The portal overlooks the street of the Museums - via dei Musei, one of the main streets of the ancient city.

Museum Street

Convent of Santa Giulia, Museum of the City of Brescia

Walking east a little along the Museum Street, we soon find ourselves near one of the most impressive sights of Brescia - namely, near the monastery of St. Julia and San Salvatore, which is now occupied by the Museum of the City. The museum is a UNESCO site.

This is a huge complex of buildings, on which you can safely lay an hour and a half or two. As written in the museum booklet, this is 14 thousand square meters of museum space, which presents 12 thousand archaeological finds representing 3 thousand years of history.

Scheme of the museum - the monastery of St. Julia

The Benedictine convent of San Salvatore and Santa Giulia was founded in 753 by the last Lombard king Desiderius and his wife Ansa. Previously, Roman villas (Ortaglia and Nifeo) were located on this site, their fragments were absorbed by the monastery.

The monastery was built until the middle of the 15th century. It includes three churches: San Salvatore, Santa Giulia and Santa Maria in Solario, numerous passages between them, filled with museum exhibits from different eras, and three internal cloisters.

The cost of a ticket to the museum is 8 euros. The museum is open Tue-Sun 10-18 in summer, 9-30-17-30 in winter.

Artifacts of the Roman period are presented in the first halls, among which the bronze sculpture of Victoria from the 1st century AD is considered the most valuable. and six bronze heads of emperors of the 2nd-3rd century AD.

A school lesson is taking place in front of the sculpture of Winged Victoria

After passing a long gallery, we find ourselves in a semi-dark, wide, covered space. This is a vast archaeological area with the ruins of two Roman villas from the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. Mosaics on the floors, interior walls, a pool near one of the houses, fragments of fountains and frescoes on the walls have been preserved.

mosaic patterns

Behind the archaeological zone there is a monastery garden, bounded by the old fortress wall that surrounded ancient Brixia - later the city wall became a monastery.

One of the bas-reliefs

We climb the stairs and find ourselves in the church of San Salvatore, in its brightest part - the Choirs with frescoes.

Mausoleum Martinengo

From the choirs we look at the church of San Salvatore itself. From above, it appears quite simple, with almost no frescoes preserved.

Church of San Salvatore

But, going down, we find that there is something to admire.

We go down into the crypt under the church.

Another transition along the second cloister. Exposition of bas-reliefs and sculptures of the Venetian period.

The caretaker directs us to the church of Santa Maria in Solario.

After the bright cheerful Choirs with frescoes, we descend into a dark church with low vaults, in one of the halls of which the main treasures of the monastery are collected. This is a carved Lipsanotheca casket made of ivory from the 4th century AD. and the cross of King Desiderius, 8th century AD. - a large golden cross studded with large precious stones and cameos.

Church of Santa Maria in Solario

Cross of Desiderius

Ivory Lipsanotheca

And the treasure room itself looks like a precious casket - its frescoes are amazing. And the dome - deep blue interspersed with golden luminaries - seems like velvet.

Actually, the frescoed choirs in the church of San Salvatore appeared at the request of the nuns, admiring the frescoes of the church of Santa Maria in Solario, created by the artist Floriano Ferramola.

Finally, all museum treasures were examined and collected on a camera flash drive. In some exhaustion, we fall out into the street. We have lunch in a cafe opposite the tower of Hercules (the tower was built from stone blocks of the ancient temple of Hercules).

Cydney Castle

We go out onto a narrow street-staircase, steeply climbing up, and soon we find ourselves above the roofs, flush with the domes of churches.

The path leads us through the park to the top of the Cydnean Hill, on which stands the Cydnean Castle.

Approaching the castle gate

We pass through the moat and get into the territory of the fortress-castle, which turns out to be huge, with numerous bastions, towers, passages, tunnels.

Below, a brown expanse of tiled roofs stretches to the horizon.

From the north, more modern, bright buildings rise, supported by mountains in the background.

Tennis courts and sports grounds are located under the walls in some places. In one of the towers of the castle, Mastio Visconteo, there is a museum of ancient weapons. The tower contains the ruins of a Roman temple (on the site of which the castle was built), as well as frescoes from the 16th century.

Wandering along the green hill - a vast city park - was very pleasant and interesting.

Churches of Brescia

We go to the church of Santa Maria della Calita - a vivid example of the local Baroque.

For the Palazzo Loggia we went along Corso Mameli, past the Torre della Pallata tower - with the Biandore fountain at the foot (1596). The fountain allegorically depicts Brescia with its rivers.

Torre della Pallata

Fountain Biandore

We approached the church of Santa Maria del Grazie when a service was going on there. The smoky brown space of this church seemed magical to me.

Church of S.M. delle Grazie

From the church, bypassing a small courtyard, you can go to the sanctuary, where the miraculous image of the Virgin is kept. Sanctuary is a small two-tiered chapel with dark blue vaults and light arches, and looks like a royal palace: mysterious and rich.

It's also very good on the inside. Richly decorated with stone carvings.

Alas, Maria Miracoli was the last object that we managed to see in Brescia - it began to get dark, it was time to return to Bergamo. Although the Church of Francis of Assisi was not far from Miracoli, there was no time left for it. We hurried to the station.

Summary

Brescia was great. We made a journey through the cuts of Time, in which there are only two steps from antiquity to the Middle Ages, and Mussolini's neoclassicism is located a hundred meters from the Renaissance.

One day to explore Brescia was not enough. Remained uncovered: the archaeological area of ​​​​the Capital Temple, the Old Duomo Rotonda (was closed), the Museum of ancient weapons in the castle, several churches of the 12th-16th centuries, the Tosio-Martinengo Pinacoteca (Count Tosio collected a collection of paintings, among which there are works by Raphael, Lotto, and Martinengo gave his palace to the city museum).

If we had heard something about Bergamo before, seen photographs, then Brescia was represented very poorly, somehow it was not well known at all. The artistic wealth of Italy sets the bar so high that it is not at all easy to break into the forefront of the city, even with such striking sights as Brescia. What in other countries would be a gourmet delicacy, in Italy is everyday food. So you can fearlessly go to any Italian city older than 5-6 centuries - this time is enough for it to be filled with masterpieces of architecture and art on the fertile, miraculous soil of the Apennine Peninsula.

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Today Blogoitaliano will tell you about the main attractions of Brescia and the surrounding area, as well as how to get here.

Brescia is the second largest city in Lombardy, a province in northern Italy, located 100 km from Milan. It is located in the foothills of the Alps on a vast plain, at an altitude of 150 m above sea level.

Brescia is in every way a comfortable place to stay. Here everyone will find something of their own from historical architecture to modern shopping, from calm and quiet walks through narrow streets and medieval castles to active skiing and yachting.

How to get to Brescia from other Italian cities

Brescia is a fairly large transport hub in northern Italy. It has its own airport, which receives flights from London, Barcelona, ​​Rome, Naples, and other Italian cities. From the airport to the center of Brescia can be reached by airbus or taxi.

Also near Brescia there are other major airports:

• (50 km from Brescia). From the airport to the city can be reached by bus "Orio Bus Express".
• (60 km from Brescia), from where trains and Airshuttle Nord shuttles run to Brescia
• Milano Linate in Milan (100 km from Brescia). From the airport, you can get to Brescia by buses of the Airshuttle Nord line.

From the major cities of northern Italy, you can also get to Brescia by train. So you will spend about an hour on the road if you choose a trip from Milan, an hour from Verona and 2 hours from Venice.

5 attractions in Brescia not to be missed

Despite the fact that Brescia is a rather large city, the main attractions are located very compactly and it will not be difficult to get around them in one day.

Monastery of Santa Giulia (San Salvador)

The monastery of San Salvador was founded by King Desiderius in 753 on the site of a former Roman settlement. Over the years of its existence, the monastery has undergone numerous changes. In the X century. it was renamed the Monastery of St. Julia (Santa Giulia) in honor of the holy martyr Julia of Carthage, whose relics were kept for many years in the walls of this monastery, in the XII and XV centuries. it was significantly expanded and supplemented with new buildings.

Monastery of Brescia Santa Giulia included in the list of UNESCO sites

Now the huge monastery complex of Santa Giulia houses the main museum of the city, which tells about the 3000-year history of the city of Brescia. Here you can find unique exhibits and testimonies from different eras, such as the statue of Aphrodite Victoria from antiquity or the choir of nuns with magnificent frescoes of the 16th century. In addition, an archaeological zone with the remains of buildings of the Roman Empire is open to visitors in the museum.

Capitol and other sights of Piazza del Foro

At the beginning of the new era, the ancient Roman settlement of Brixia existed on the site of Brescia. Its civic and religious center was located on the site of the modern Piazza del Foro (Foro Square).

The Roman Capitol adorns the modern Forum Square

The Capitol was located in the northern part of the square, from which a portal and several columns, as well as an amphitheater for 15,000 spectators, have survived to this day, a basilica or a Roman court limited the square from the south, and the city market occupied the central part of the forum. The historical landmark of Brescia was discovered in the 19th century and partially reconstructed. You can still see the Roman Forum today.

To the left of the ruins of the Capitol is the Martinengo Cesaresco Palace, no less famous in Brescia, dating back to the 17th century. Now this building houses the city university and exhibition halls.

Cathedral Square

Piazza Duomo (the second name is Piazza Paolo VI, in honor of Pope Paul VI) is the central square of modern Brescia and one of its brightest sights. The architectural appearance of Piazza Duomo began to take shape during the Middle Ages. As a memory of the past, the Old Cathedral (Duomo Vecchio), built in the 12th century, has been preserved here, resembling an early Christian basilica in shape. Inside, you can see unique frescoes preserved from Roman baths, as well as the sarcophagus of the first citizen of the city and the bishop of Brescia, Berardo Maggi.

Old and new Cathedral of Brescia

To the left of the Old Cathedral rises the New Cathedral (Duomo Nuovo). It is the religious center of modern Brescia. It was built for a very long time from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century, which is why it mixed many styles in its architecture. It is also noteworthy that the dome of the Duomo Nuovo in Brescia is considered the third largest in Italy after and

Here on the Cathedral Square is the Palazzo Broletto - the oldest public building in Brescia. Now it houses the prefecture and the regional administration.

Piazza della Loggia

As a memento of the power over the city of the Venetian Republic, Brescia has preserved another striking landmark - Loggia Square (Piazza della Loggia), which is often compared with San Marco Square in Venice.

Venetian Loggia square in Brescia (Italy)

Piazza della Loggia is famous for the beautiful Renaissance palace - Palazzo della Loggia, which served city officials for several centuries. The palace is decorated with exquisite sculptures and an astronomical clock of the 16th century. In addition to the palazzo, you can see other buildings of the 16th century in the Venetian style on the square.

Brescia Castle

Another interesting attraction of Brescia lurks on the top of the Chidneo hill - this is the medieval Visconti castle, built at the beginning of the 15th century on the ruins of a Roman temple.

The medieval castle is one of the main attractions of Brescia

The Mirabella tower (XIII century) is considered the oldest part of the castle. The rest of the buildings were repeatedly destroyed and then restored again.

Now the castle has lost its defensive function. It houses two famous museums in Brescia: the Museum of Arms and the Risorgimento Museum, which tells the difficult story of the unification of Italy.

A cozy park is laid out around the castle, and from the top of the hill a bewitching view of the city opens up.

TOP 5 attractions around Brescia

A lot of interesting and unusual places to stay can be found in the vicinity of Brescia, in the region of the same name. There is history and archeology, romance and amazing nature, health improvement and active recreation.

Lakes Garda, Iseo and Idro

Brescia is a lake district. In the vicinity of the city there are several of the most famous lakes in northern Italy. The largest lake - Garda - fascinates with romantic landscapes and incredible beauty of coastal towns, which we are talking about.

Lake Iseo

No less picturesque are the crescent-shaped Lake Iseo and the high-mountainous Idro. Silence, tranquility and romantic mood reign around these freshwater reservoirs. In addition, all the lakes of the region are perfectly suited for active sports.

You can get to the lakes from Brescia by car or by rail.

In the Brescia region, 80 km north of the city of the same name, lies the Val Camonica valley. In 1979, this valley was taken under the protection of UNESCO thanks to hundreds of thousands of carved images left by ancient people in the period of 6000 BC. - 500 AD Petroglyphs can be found throughout the valley, but most of them are concentrated near the municipalities of Capo di Ponte, Nadro, Darfo Boario Terme, Paspardo and Chimbergo.

The largest collection of petroglyphs in Europe is located in the Val Camonica valley.

Franciacorta Region

Franciacorta is the region where the famous white and rosé sparkling wines Franciacorta DOCG and Curtefranca DOC are produced. On the hills of Erbusco, 20 km west of Brescia, is one of the most famous wineries in Italy, Ca'del Bosco, which is one of the three best producers of Italian wines. In this region, you can taste not only sparkling wines, but also the unique Brescia cuisine with clear German accents.

The Franciacorta region is the birthplace of Italian sparkling wines

By the way, tourists from Milan can also taste Franciacorta wines. Our Milanese guide Oksana organizes excursions to Brescia for wine tasting. Contact Oksana and

Thermal spas of Brescia

Among the attractions of the Brescia region, there are numerous thermal resorts that allow not only to have a great rest, but also to improve your health. The most famous of them are Angolo (Angolo Terme), Boario (Terme di Boario) near Lake Iseo, Sirmione (Colombare di Sirmione) on the shores of the picturesque Lake Garda and Vallio (Vallio Terme).

Ski resort Adamello Ski

And finally, we will please lovers of outdoor activities. In the province of Brescia, there is the famous ski resort Adamello Ski, where all the conditions for a winter family holiday are created. 30 lifts, about 100 km of slopes of various difficulty levels are suitable for both beginners and extreme sportsmen.

In addition, the Adamello Ski complex also captures the territory of the Presena glacier, located at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level, so you can ski here even in summer.

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Photos by: RobyBS89, Geobia, Wolfgang Moroder, Manfred Heyde, Allan Parsons, Alessandro Vecchi, Luca Giarelli, Fabio Ingrosso

Brescia, Also Brescia, Brescia, less often Bresha(Italian Brescia, in the Brescia dialect Breha, lomb. Bresa, zap.-lomb. Bressa, Brescia, lat. Brixia) is a city in northern Italy, in Lombardy, the administrative center of the province of the same name.

The archaeological area, which includes the Roman Forum and the monastery of San Salvatore Santa Giulia, is part of a group of historical buildings called Lombards in Italy, seats of power, 568-774 AD. which became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

Geography

The city is located in the foothills of the Alps, on the Harza River. Brescia is located at an altitude of 150 m, 99 km east of Milan, on a vast fertile plain, at the foot of Mount Maddalena. The Brescia-Iseo-Edolo railway runs from Brescia to the Camonica Valley.

Story

Brescia was an ancient Gallic city, called in antiquity Brixia and was the capital of tsenomani. The inhabitants were allies of the Romans when Hannibal crossed the Alps and started a war with them.

Later, the Romans settled their colonists here, thanks to whom the city soon reached a high degree of prosperity and became one of the most important cities in Transpadan Gaul. Destroyed by the Huns in the era of the great migration of peoples, it was soon rebuilt and after the fall of the Ostrogothic kingdom shared the fate of most of the cities of Upper Italy.

The Lombards, then Charlemagne and the Franks, the German Empire and local princes alternately came into possession of it. Despite these changes, he still achieved great prosperity and power. As a result of a long struggle between the townspeople and the lord (bishop), Brescia acquired the rights of an urban commune in the 12th century. After the termination of the Saxon dynasty in Germany, he achieved independence, joined the alliance of the Lombard cities against Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and, after defeating the latter (under Legnano in 1176), achieved recognition of his independence in the Peace of Constance.

Emperor Frederick II unsuccessfully besieged the city in 1238, Henry VII conquered it in 1311. In 1339 Brescia came under the rule of the Visconti, in 1428 to Venice. After the fall of the Venetian Republic - the fortress of the Austrian Habsburgs. In the Italian war of 1859, Brescia took the side of the Savoy dynasty, to which it was ceded along with the rest of Lombardy.

Austrian fortress

In 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte took Brescia from the Venetians and concluded a truce with Naples. Soon after this, the city was taken by the Austrians under the command of Wurmser, but the latter had to give it back to Augereau. On April 21, 1798, the city was taken by Suvorov, who commanded the Russian and Austrian troops. Major General Prince Bagration distinguished himself in this battle. Only in 1815 Brescia went to Austria.

In the uprising of 1848, the Brescias took an active part. Already in March, at the first news of the events in Milan, they took up arms and forced the Austrian garrison to surrender. But in contrast to the Milanese republicans, the city actively sought to join the Piedmont. After the battle of Custozza and the capitulation of Milan, he suffered the fate of other Lombard cities. When war broke out again between Piedmont and Austria in March 1849, Brescia was the only significant city in Lombardy whose population revolted against Austrian domination. Since the city, after the defeat of the Piedmontese at Novara, did not want to surrender voluntarily, on March 30 Gainau laid siege to it, and at the same time a fierce bombardment was opened against it from the citadel left in the hands of the Austrians. The inhabitants defended themselves until noon on April 2, mostly among the smoking ruins. Gainau promised to spare the life and property of the inhabitants under the condition of paying an indemnity of more than 6 million lire.

Attractions

Pavel Muratov described his impression of Brescia at the beginning of the 20th century as follows:

Narrow streets wind through gardens in the mountainous part of the city, while the Loggia, on which almost all the great architects of the Veneto worked up to Sansovino and Palladio, a charming square in front of it, porticos of shops and Toppe del Orologio with bronze dolls striking a bell , testify clearly that the winged lion of San Marco owns everything here. There is nothing, however, more unexpected than to find in this Venetian environment the remains of the Roman forum and the whole Vespasian temple, now turned into a museum of antiquities and keeping the winged Victory within its walls. There was some kind of first Brescia, late Roman and early Christian, Byzantine and Lombard, adjacent to Milan of Ambrose and Ravenna of Galla Placidia. And that she was strong and rich in an era that so often captivates us bass empire, we can judge by the abundance, rarity and even sophistication of the monuments that fill its ancient and medieval museums.

Brescia to this day has retained the features of the ancient Roman layout and the remains of Roman public buildings. The former ramparts are now turned into places for walking; but on the north side there is still a fortified castle, located on a high and steep rock and dominating the city. From an architectural point of view, the town hall of the 11th-13th centuries, the cathedral (Duomo Vecchio, 11th-15th centuries), Renaissance and Baroque palaces and churches are of interest.

In Brescia, the historic car race "Mille Miglia" begins and ends ( a thousand miles) held in May each year.

Old Cathedral (right) and New Cathedral (left) Palazzo della Loggia Temple Capitoline in the Roman Forum (World Heritage) Brescia Castle

Famous Brescians

• Moretto da Brescia and Girolamo Romanino worked in Renaissance Brescia
• Caminazzo - a family of Italian gun barrel makers from the late 16th and 17th centuries
• Nicolo Tartaglia - 16th century Italian mathematician
• Paul VI - Pope
• Arturo Benedetti-Michelangeli is one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.
• Arcangelo Tadini is a Catholic saint.
• Bocchi, Faustino - Italian painter.
• Arnold of Brescia - religious and public figure, heretic.