Founded by the Gauls on Ligurian territory, Brescia was romanized in 225 B.C.; it later became the seat of a Longobard duchy, then a
commune and, lastly, after having belonged to the Scaligers and the
Visconti, it was annexed by Venice in the 15th century.
From Piazza della Loggia, dominated by the striking Renaissance Palace
(1492-1574), to which Sansovino and Palladio both contributed, and where the
Palazzo del Monte di Pieta, with its small Venetian loggia, and the 16th
century Palace with the Torre dell'Orologio also stand, we enter the
elongated Piazza del Duomo, containing the medieval Broletto (or Court
House) at the foot of the Colle Cidneo, with its massive Torre del Pope In
and handsome courtyard, the 17th century New Cathedral (paintings by Romanino
and Palma the Younger); and the Romanesque Rotonda (11th -12th century) with a
Baroque doorway and a severe interior of stone, with works by Moretto and
Romanino.
Behind- the Rotunda, by way of Via Mazzini, we come to Via pet Mosel, where
set up against the hill may be seen the ruins of the Temple of Vespasian.
Next to it is the Roman Museum which contains the famous bronze Victory, one
of the most perfect sculptures of classical antiquity. Then we go to Piazza
Moretto, to the Painting Gallery, a magnificent collection of Brescian
paintings, but which also includes works by Raphael, Tintoretto, Foppa and
Clouet.
Beside it there are the two superimposed churches of S.
Afra (a beautiful Transfiguration, by Tintoretto). Down Via Moretto, passing
the Church of S. Alessandro (with an exceedingly rare Madonna by Jacopo
Bellini), we come to the Lombard-Gothic church of San Francesco (1265) with
14th century frescoes and altarpieces by Romanino and Moretto. From here,
going in front of the 18th century church of S. Maria della Pace, we reach
the corner of Corso Garibaldi where the great Torre della Pallata is
located.
In Via Grazie, stands the and at a short distance San
Nazzaro with an altar-piece by Titian. Baroque church of the Madonna delle
Grave with a magnificent Renaissance cloister. Following Via Capriolo we
come to S. Giovanni Evangelista, a very ancient church with a sumptuous
interior works by Marietta, Roommate, and Francia). From the nearby Madonna
del Carmine (14th century facade and doorway), we climb up to the bastions of
the Castle a Venetian structure with a breath-taking view of the Alps and
the plain below. Descending by way of Via Veronica Gambara, we come to the
Medieval Museum, which incorporates two old churches, S. Giulia, and the
oldest church in Brescia, the picturesque S. Salvatore (9th century) with its
Roman columns. In the Museum, an outstanding collection of ivories, jewelry,
iron work, sculpture, inlaid work, and weapons is to be admired.
Piazza della Loggia - Photo © 