Sightseeing in Brescia - what to see. Complete travel guide

Located in the north of Italy, Brescia is one of the most important industrial centers in the country. This is also a popular tourist destination because the city is famous for its historical center that is incredibly beautiful and definitely deserves the attention of guests. It would be a mistake not to mention the gorgeous valleys that surround Brescia. This is the location of the major landmarks of the city. Besides this, the settlement is famous for numerous wineries and Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy and a popular resort destination.

The city of Brescia has been famous since ancient times. It had a slightly different name – Brixia – at that time. The city’s name means “fortress”. The Gallic Cenomani tribes inhabited this area in the 7th century BC. In the 1st century BC, Italian cities in the Alps region slowly became a part of the republic. This is how residents of Brescia got the Roman legislation system and then became citizens of the Roman Empire. The city had certain administrative freedom. This marked the start of Brixia’s development – the settlement got temples, baths, and an aqueduct. It felt like Brixia would remain prosperous for centuries.

However, everything changed after the fall of the Roman Empire. Brescia lost its importance, and Huns could plunder the region. That being said, the city survived and managed to regain its positions despite all troubles. All buildings destroyed during numerous battles were restored and rebuilt. The city started developing faster than before. Brescia became a part of the Venetian Republic in the 15th century. The city had to endure a bloody battle which took place in 1849. Known as The Ten Days of Brescia, this was a bloody battle that lasted almost ten days and claimed the lives of many people. After this, Brescia got a proud title of “the Lioness of Italy”. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Brescia is internationally recognized for its cuisine that has much in common with German cuisine. Almost all restaurants and cafes in the city offer a range of dishes with beef. Dairy butter is a very popular ingredient here, and so it is present in many dishes. Dumplings with beef and pork roasted on coals are the national dishes in Brescia. But these are not all specialties that local chefs offer to their guests. Larks roasted in traditional butter have a wonderful taste. Needless to say, tourists simply cannot escape such traditional food delights as pizza, polenta, and pasta.

Where should guests of Brescia start sightseeing? First of all, head to the Roman theater built in the 1st century AD. The theater is in ruins, but it is still interesting to visit this attraction. The ruins are located to the east of the Capitolium temple. Archeologists unearthed many precious artifacts during excavations in this area, including Vittoria Alata. Nowadays, this theater is an important historic landmark in Brescia because this is one of the largest Roman theaters in northern Italy. The theater had a diameter of 86 meters and could provide space for up to 15,000 guests.

When you reach the theater, you can see that many tribunes have survived until modern days. The height of these tribunes is 25 meters. Some time ago, the city’s authorities had an idea to build a new theater in Roman style on the site of the ruins so that a new venue could host various concerts and performances. However, Italian historians didn’t support this idea because the new building could ruin the historic heritage of the landmark.

If you like Baroque style, you will greatly enjoy your visit to the Church of Santa Maria. Locals informally call it the Church of the Good Shepherd because there was a monastery nearby until 1998. The church dates back to the 16th century. It was restored in the mid-17th century using funds collected by local people. This is when the church got an incredibly beautiful and skillfully made altar. Marble of different colors is the main material for the altar. Many residents of Brescia visit this church to pray to Our Lady.

Having entered this landmark, pay your attention to the beautiful décor made by Italian masters. Besides the image of Our Lady, there are images of Mary Magdalene, Saint Sebastian, and Saint Antonio. The gorgeous building is an important architectural landmark with elements and details typical Baroque period.

The local airport accommodates flights from Barcelona, London, and Rome. After that, a comfortable bus will take you to the city center. It takes thirty-five minutes to get to Brescia by train that departs from Verona. When arriving in Brescia from other Italian cities, the train is usually the most comfortable means of transport. The journey time is forty to fifty minutes, but the ride will be fast if you look at the picturesque landscapes in the window.