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 Introduction
The ancient city of Brixia, has been an important regional centre since pre-Roman times and a number of Roman and medieval monuments are preserved, among which is the prominent castle. The city is at the centre of the third-largest Italian industrial area, concentrating on mechanical and automotive engineering and machine tools. The tourist industry is also important, given the proximity of Lake Garda, Lake Iseo and the Alps.
Arrival Plane
Brescia Montichiari Airport is just 18 km or approx. 20 minutes drive from the city centre. Verona and Milan are situated 50km and 120km respectively from the airport. Ryanair connects twice a day Brescia with London Stansted and once a day with Rome Ciampino.
Train
Brescia is on the Turin-Milan-Venice train line. Most of the trains in service on this railway stop in Brescia. From Milano Stazione Centrale a train leaves at about every hour, and the journey take about 1 hour.
Car
If you come from the east you can reach Brescia through the A4 motorway, direction Milan. From the west you take the A4 motoway, direction Venice.
If you come from the south or south-west you take the A21 motoway, direction Brescia. From Turin or Milan take motoway Torino Venezia up to the exit at Brescia Centro.
History and Culture
In 1426, Brescia became a possession of the Republic of Venice, and remained such until 1796. After the end of the Napoleonic era, Brescia was annexed to the Austrian state called Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Brescia revolted in 1848. It distinguished again for the revolt called the Ten Days of Brescia (march 1849), for which the poet Giosue Carducci called it “Leonessa d'Italia” (“Italian Lioness”), being the only Lombard town to rally to Charles Albert in the latter year; but was taken after ten days of fighting by the Austrians under Haynau.
In 1769 the city was devastated when the Church of San Nazaro was struck by lightning. The resulting fire ignited 200,000 lb (90,000 kg) of gunpowder being stored there, causing a massive explosion which destroyed one sixth of the city and killed 3,000 people. Brescia was annexed to Italy in 1859.
Churches and Museums
Built between 1254 and 1263 in the Lombard Romanesque style, the church dedicated to St. Francis is one of the most important of Brescia. The interior, with three aisles, keeps the fourteenth-century frescoes. The facade is adorned with a beautiful rose, as well as an attractive cloister.
Duomo Vecchio (Old Cathedral)
Duomo Vecchio, also known as La Rotonda represents an example of extraordinary beauty of Romanesque architecture in Italy. It is known to all, because of its circular shape. It was started by teachers masters at the end of the eleventh century on the ruins of what was the Basilica S. Maria Maggiore del VII sec.
Duomo Nuovo (New Cathedral)
The New Cathedral was built between 1604 and 1825, its construction began in 1604 but was not finished until 1825, when the dome was completed. The facade is mainly owed to the designs of Giovanni Battista and Antonio Marchetti, while the cupola was designed by Luigi Cagnola. Interior frescoes including the Marriage, Visitation, and Birth of the Virgin, as well as the Sacrifice of Isaac, by Bonvicino.
Santa Maria dei Miracoli
In 1487 the city agreed to built a chapel in honor of Our Lady. This church is considered a jewel of Lombard Renaissance sculpture. It was constructed to celebrate a miraculous image of the Madonna that was painted on the wall of a nearby house and can now be found in the churches apse. The church boasts a decorative facade, in a similar style to the Loggia, which was sculptured by the same artists.
Museum of Ancient Arms
This museum is located in The Castle and is dedicated to Luigi Marzoli, who gave his extensive collection to the city. His collection is one of the most important collections in Europe and is kept in the most attractive part of the castle. The collection contains 500 weapons and pieces of armour, which are mainly made in Italy, but also includes some pieces from around Europe.
Pinacoteca Civica Tosio-Martinengo
The Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo is a public art collection exhibiting mainly paintings by local artists from the 13th through 18th centuries.
The gallery opened in 1851 in the Palazzo Tosio, endowed in 1832 with the collection of Count Paolo Tosio. This is one of the most important Italian painting collections.
Museo del Risorgimento
The Civic Museo del Risorgimento, established in 1887, is located within the Castle Brescia, in the Great Mile. The headquarters of the Museum changed several times over the years until, in 1959, he was finally moved in the big Mile in Castello. The museum traces the history of Italian Unification from the end of Venetian domination until 1870.
Santa Giulia Monastery
Home to the city's museum, this former monastery is made up of three churches, the oldest of which dates back to 762. Among the treasure to be seen in the museum is a bejewelled cross whose original owner, the Longobard king Desiderio, founded the monastery.
Historical buildings and monuments
The Renaissance is particularly impressed by the beautiful Loggia, or building of the Municipality, which is the dominant element. It was built in 1492 by the architect Filippino de' Grassi. Its style is heavily influenced by the Venetian rule of the time, this is best seen in the ornate loggia on the southern side of the piazza. The piazza is also home to the substantial 16th century astronomical clock.
Castello di Brescia
Sitting at the top of the Cidneo Hill, the castle dates back to ancient times. Fortified since the Roman Era, and probably a watchtower during the period of the Goths, it gradually took on its present aspect during the Visconti dynasty in the first half of the 14th century. The keep has a cylindrical tower called the “Mirabella” that is 22 meters tall and from the 13th century.
Broletto
The Broletto formerly the Town Hall was built in the thirteenth century in the style and elements of Romanesque Gothic style. The place where it was built was originally an orchard and garden, defined as brolo, from which the building is named. Built at the turn of the XII and XIII century is one of the finest municipal buildings in Lombardy.
Places of Interests
These stunning hills surrounding Brescia have been covered with vineyards since roman times. Today the vineyards most illustrious yield is Franciacorta a popular sparkling wine.
Capo di Ponte
Located at 362 meters above sea level, Capo di Ponte owes its name to the geographical position of some old houses placed beyond the bridge over the river to Oglio Cemmo Suburb. At Capo di Ponte, in the Val Camonica, lies the Parco Nazionale della Incisioni Rupestri (National Park of the Rock Paintings); in this area can be seen numerous rock paintings made by the former inhabitants, the Camuni (a total of 876 scenes from the Late Bronze and Iron Age). These rock paintings are included in the UNESCO list of protected items.
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Brescia Travel Guide
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