CASTLE, CATHEDRALS, ART AND ARMOR
Brescia, Lombardy - Antique City
An
ancient city-state of Lombardy northern Italy, Brescia was the home
of the area's influential Dukes
of Lombard
and an important Roman era
center. The name Brescia comes from an old word (Brixia) meaning “hill” from
where the Castello Brescia overlooks the city and the central plane of
Italy's busy industrial region between Verona and Milan. The center of
Brescia is a collection of old town squares from different eras connected
by narrow streets of cafes, upscale shops and night spots. The Piazza
Del Loggia is the main old square in front of the Loggia city hall showing
the influence of the Venitian rule. While the Piazza Vittoria
is a monument to the
neoclassical fascist era
and
where
the
city center’s
main underground parking garage can be found and which hosts an Antiques
Market under it’s columned arcades on the second Sunday of every
month (except July and August).
Read reviews of Hotels in Brescia
Through a
narrow street to the Piazza Paolo VI (Paul 6th) the trail of Brescia’s history can
be clearly compared with its two cathedrals side by side. The round
Romanesque era Duomo Vecchio, also known as Il
Rotonda was built over the ruins of the Santa Maria Maggiore, an early
Christian basilica from the end of the 11th century. At the entrance
is the ornate tomb made of red Verona marble dedicated to the Bishop
of Brescia in 1308. The Duomo Vecchio (Old Cathedral) holds the Treasure
of the Holy Crosses and decorated with frescoes and paintings by Romanino
and Alessandro Bonvicino, named "il Moretto" (see Castello
Buonconsiglio) as part of the
city museum complex which holds exhibitions
of artists more recent artsist like Gauguin, Monet, Van Gogh, attracting
tourists from
all over Europe.
Standing right beside it is the late Renaissance period (1604) “New Cathedral” Santa Giulia in a style that echoes early Baroque, notable for its dome which is the third largest in Italy after St. Peter’s in Rome and Florence’s Santa Maria Novella. The city museum at the Santa Giulia Across the square is the Il Boletto the city’s older town hall first begun in the 12th century and expanded in the 14th and 16th. It is dominated by the Pegol tower, the oldest in the city.
The
Castello di Brescia, a few minutes walk (uphill) from the city
center is notably of similar romanesque
construction
with its round tower referred
to as the Mirabella echoing the old cathedral in the city over which
it looks. The castle is a citadel unto itself of fortified towers,
courtyards, drawbridges and dungeons. Originally a Roman fortification
and a watch
tower defensive position in the Goth period in the dark ages, the present
castle took its shape during the Visconti reign of the 1300’s
and was later added to by the Venetians, the French and Austro-Hungarians
who controlled central north Italy (see Castello
d’Arco).
The castle houses the Museum of Ancient Weapons in the 14th century keep. One of the most important armor collections in Italy, it contains over 500 articles of armor suits, helmets, lances, swords and shields, many from Brescia's early local arms industry craftsmen displayed under original 14th century frescoes in many of its rooms and built on the foundation of an earlier Roman temple still visible.
Brescia is also the home to
a popular Italian Football (Soccer) team and the historic Mille Miglia
vintage auto race (see
1000
Miles To Rome And Back). Its museum is a few kilometers
to the east of the old
town
center
(see Mille
Miglia Museum). The area around Brescia provides a number
of golf courses and the lakes of Lombady, Garda (see Italy's
Big Lake Garda) and
Iseo (see Hotel
Villa Kinzica). © Bargain
Travel Europe
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without permission.
SEE ALSO:
CASINOS
IN MONTE CARLO
MURDER
AND A MEAL - ROMANTIC CASTLE TOBLINO
WINE TASTING AND TOURING TRENTINO
UNIQUE ITALIAN FLAVORS - TOURS
MADONNA DI TIRANO - CHANGING TRAINS
