Brescia

The second largest city in Lombardy, Brescia does not enjoy the reputation it deserves. It is indeed a very beautiful city, with a harmonious historic center in the plain at the foot of the hill with its historic castle, developing with charming streets around its historic squares.
Its history spans millennia, occupied by the Gauls Ligures and then the Cenomani, before becoming the Roman Brixia which was, from the time of the Roman Republic, an important city located on the Via Gallica. From that era, substantial remains have come down to us, such as the remnants of temples, the forum and the theater. It remained prosperous in the Middle Ages, notably seeing beautiful Lombard constructions.
Brescia is today a prosperous city where nearly 200,000 inhabitants live, more than 500,000 with its metropolitan area, where numerous industries have settled, including the headquarters of the gunmakers Beretta and Perazzi.
In 2011, UNESCO inscribed several sites of the city on the World Heritage list, including the Santa Giulia complex or the Roman Capitolium. During a visit, one can also discover its castle built on the pretty hill and its two historic squares, the Piazza della Loggia and the Piazza Paolo VI also called Square of the Two Cathedrals.

Historical overview

Brescia was the capital of the Cenomani, Celts originally from the region of Le Mans who came to settle in northern Italy in the 5th century BC.
The Romans took control of the city in 187 BC, and Brescia obtained Roman citizenship in 49 BC.
From 568 to 774, the Lombards established an important duchy there. From 1404 to 1797, the city was a territory of the Republic of Venice.
A famous popular revolt broke out against Austrian oppression between March 23 and April 1, 1849. Since then Brescia has been nicknamed the “Lioness of Italy” in memory of the bravery of its inhabitants.

Main Monuments

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Also read the article Sites to see in Brescia

• Santa Giulia Complex, the city museum housed in a monastery
• Archaeological Area, around the ancient forum with the Capitolium or the theater
• Brescia Castle on the hill overlooking the city
• Piazza della Loggia One of the two most beautiful squares in the city
• Paul VI Square or Piazza Duomo The square with the two cathedrals or the medieval Broletto
• Old Cathedral The old medieval cathedral
• Carmine District and Pallata Tower
• Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
• Tosio Martinengo Art Gallery A beautiful collection related to the painting of the Brescia school
• Other places : New Cathedral, Church of San Cristo, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Piazza Vittoria, the Queriniana Library, San Giuseppe and diocesan museum, the Teatro Grande, the Mille Miglia Museum outside the city, Church of Santa Maria della Carita, Santa Maria del Carmine, Church of Santi Faustino e Giovita, Church of San Nazaro e Celso, Piazzale Arnaldo, Palazzo Tosio, and other remarkable churches

Photos of some places

Information

• Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org
• Tourism portals: www.turismobrescia.it, www.in-lombardia.it, www.visitbrescia.it

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