From
Neo-Classicism to the Twentieth CenturyAfter 1800, the city's appearance
began to change: the city walls were no longer required for defensive purposes and were
little by little dismantled and excavations begun which led to the discovery of the
Capitoline Temple.
The Corn Market in piazzale Arnaldo was one of the most important
buildings during this period. The white stone colonnade demonstrates the neo-classical
taste of the age and was raised to allow wagons to be loaded. Many large and imposing
buildings were put up around 1800 that today are still part of Brescian life. For example,
there is Casa Chiappa in piazza Paolo VI, a severe though original example of
neo-classicism; the Conservatory, in corso Magenta; and Palazzo Tosio in via
Tosio, designed by the most famous architect of the day, Rodolfo Vantini, who also
designed the city cemetery, and now the home of the Athenaeum and the Brescian Academy of
Science, Literature and Arts.
Liberty
There are not many Liberty buildings in Brescia but those
few are interesting. This style aroused much interest at the 1904 Brescia Exhibition.
The two architects who were best able to interpret it were
Arnaldo Trebeschi and Egidio Dabbeni. Where can the visitor find Liberty buildings in
Brescia?
Try Casa Migliorati at 3, via Trento or Palazzo Pisa at 29, corso Magenta.
Piazza della Vittoria
This square was built by knocking down a large part of the
medieval city. It was designed by the Fascist architect Marcello Piacentini in his
monumental and neo-classical style and was inaugurated in 1932. It is closed on one side
by the huge central Post Office covered with travertine stone, and dominated on another by
a 60 m tower. Opposite the tower stands the Quadriportico with the Tower of the Revolution
above. It is from this square that the famous car race, the historic Mille Miglia, starts
each spring.