The city of Brescia lies at the foot of the hills below the Pre-Alps, bordering on the Po Plain. Its situation is favourable to town settlement, industry, trade and tourism. The first settlement goes back to the Bronze Age, when the Ligurians established in Brescia. Later the Etruscans settled there, while the Celts occupied the city at the end of the 7th century B.C. In 27 B.C. Brixia was raised to the rank of Roman "Colonia".
At the time of the dissolution of the Roman Empire, Brescia became the capital of a Lombard duchy (7th century A.D.). During this period the convent of S. Salvatore (later called Santa Giulia) was founded by King Desiderio. Its cloisters are the setting Alessandro Manzoni chose for "Adelchi"; the famous tragedy tells the story of Ermengarda, the king's unhappy daughter married to Charlemagne, the king of the Franks who subdued the city.
In the 11th century Brescia became a city-state and took part in the struggle against Federico Barbarossa at Legnano. In this period the local citizen Arnaldo, who was a monk, was burned alive because he preached against the corruption of the clergy and was considered a heretic.
During the 13th century Milan and Venice disputed the rule of Brescia. In 1438 the Visconti besieged the city, but there is a popular belief that Saints Faustino and Giovita appeared to the enemies and managed to put them to flight.
In 1512 Brescia was besieged by the French army led by Gaston de Foix. During the 16th century in the artistic field the painters Foppa, Romanino, Moretto and Savoldo created the most famous works of the Brescian Renaissance, which are now in the Municipal Art Gallery and churches. Afterwards, under the rule of Venice, Brescia prospered.
The long period of peace brought great economic progress in agriculture and handicraft, especially in the manufacture of arms, which was renowned all over Europe.
At the end of the 18th century, the French army led by Napoleon put an end to Venetian rule, so Brescia became part of the Cisalpine Republic and of the Regno d'Italia.
On the fall of Napoleon, Brescia became a possession of the Austrians. They governed the city as part of the Regno Lombardo Veneto until 1849, when the people of Brescia rebelled against Austrian rule during the "X Giornate" (Ten Days) of 1849.
The city was called the "Leonessa d'Italia" (the Lioness of Italy) because of the courage showed during these memorable days. After the unification of the Regno d'Italia, the Brescian citizen Giuseppe Zanardelli was appointed Minister several times, then he became Prime Minister (1901-1903).
During the Thirties Piazza della Vittoria was inaugurated. The square was an important example of the change of direction in Brescia's urban development during the Fascist period.
During the post-war period there was an enormous increase in industrial production and private enterprise and Brescia became a very important industrial centre. Giovanni Battista Montini, who became Pope by the name of Paolo VI, is one of the most distinguished Brescian citizens.
The square that was formerly called Piazza del Duomo is named after him. Nowadays the southern area of the city called "Brescia Due" is considered a model of modernity.
piazza Paolo VI
piazza della Loggia
the Forum
the Tosio Martinengo Art Gallery
piazza della Vittoria
the church of santa Maria delle Grazie
the church of san Francesco d'Assisi
the castle
santa Giulia: the city museum
the church of santi Nazaro e Celso
the church of santa Maria del Carmine