Brescia

Brescia is the second largest city in the Lombardy region. Poet Giosuè Carducci defined it as Leonessa d'Italia (Italy's Lioness). The province of Brescia is situated in the Padana Plain, extending up to the Prealps and Alps, up to an altitude of over 3,000 m (Adamello, 3554 m asl). The town lies at the foot of Moutn Maddalena and Colle Cidneo. In the nearby areas there are several lakes: Iseo Lake (shared with the Bergamo Province), Garda Lake (shared with Verona and Trento), Idro Lake, Valvestino Lake and many others. The Brescia province include three valleys: Valle Camonica, Val Sabbia, Val Trompia. Brescia boasts a long history. Different mythological versions of the foundation of Brescia exist: one assign it to Hercules, while another says that it was created by a fugitive from the siege of Troy. According to historians, the founder was the king of the Ligures Cidnus, who built the castle on the top of Cidneo hill, in order to defend the town. Other scholars attribute the foundation to the Etruscans. Invaded by the Gauls in the 4th century BC, Brixia, the future Brescia, became the capital of the area. During the Roman Age, since 196 BC, Brixia was allied of the Romans and later it was annexed to the Empire. It became an important religious centre with three temples, the amphitheatre, the spas and a forum. In 500 the town was occupied by the Lombards. It was only in the 12th century that Brescia became an independent commune and in the 15th century it became part of the territory of La Serenissima (Most Serene Republic of Venice) In 1849, during the Italian Risorgimento (Italian Unification), it played an important role in the revolt against the Austrian armies, called the Ten Days of Brescia for which the poet Giosuè Carducci called it "Leonessa d'Italia" (Italian Lioness). Also note that the Lion is the symbol of the city. Not to be missed are: Piazza della Loggia, a notheworty example of Renaissance closed square with Palazzo del Comune (Town hall, la Loggia), piazza Paolo VI, with the Duomo Vecchio (Old Cathedral or "Rotonda), dating back to the 11th century, the Duomo Nuovo (New Cathedral), Broletto (ancient town hall), Piazza del Foro, with important traces of Roman origins such as Tempio Capitolino. The Monastery of S. Salvatore and the Monastery of S. Giulia, of Medieval origins, the façade of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, designed by architect Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, the Chiesa of San Francesco, in Romanesque-Gothic style. Brescia has also important museums such as the Museo di Santa Giulia, a historical and artistic museum housed in the ancient Benedectine Convent of Santa Giulia; Museo del Risorgimento (Museum of the Risorgimento), Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo (picture gallery) housing, among others, masterpieces of important artists of the pictorial school in Brescia of the 15th and 16th centuries, the Capitolium, a temple of the Roman Brixia; Museo delle Armi Luigi Marzoli (Museum of Arms). Brescia is the starting point and arrival of the historical car race Mille Miglia, a parade for pre-1957 cars lasting several days.