• A Santa Giulia
• B Capitolium and Roman Theatre
• C Museum of Ancient Arms "Luigi Marzoli"
• D Museum of the Risorgimento
• E Tosio Martinengo Picture-Gallery
• F Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art
• G Association of Art and Spirituality
• H Museum of Natural History
• I Museum of Industry and Work

Places and Monuments

• L Piazza della Loggia
• M Broletto
• N Palazzo Martinengo (exhibition seat of "Brescia Mostre")
• O Biblioteca Queriniana
• P Piazza del Mercato
• Q Castello

Churches

1. Old Cathedral
2. New Cathedral
3. Church of S. Clemente
4. Church of S. Maria in Calchera
5. Church of S. Afra in S. Eufemia
6. Church of S. Angela Merici
7. Church of S. Alessandro
8. Church of SS. Nazaro e Celso
9. Church of S. Maria dei Miracoli
10. Church of S. Francesco
11. Church of S. Maria della Pace
12. Church of S. Giovanni Evangelista
13. Church of S. Maria del Carmine
14. Church of S. Giuseppe
15. Church of SS. Faustino e Giovita
16. Church of S. Pietro in Oliveto
17. Church of S. Corpo di Cristo

Museums

The archaeological finds of the religious and social centre of the Roman town, which became a monument in 1st century AD., represent one of the most significant architectural example: in northern Italy. Particularly rare are the cells of the first sanctuary dating back to the republican epoch (1st century BC.), with frescos in Pompeian style, extraordinarily well-kept, and the Lapidarium placed at the beginning of the 19th c. in the central cell of the temple from the 1st century AD.

Located in the medieval Visconti keep, whose basement houses important finds from the Roman Age, the museum houses one of the most significant collections of ancient arms. Gathered by a private collector, the arms testify to the skill of ancient local production, famous all over the world for its perfect execution and extraordinary attention to detail, especially in the arms of the 16th-17th century.

D The Museum of the Risorgimento

Housed in the vaulted rooms of the "Grande and Piccolo Miglio", once storehouses of the castle garrisons, the museum represents over a century of history of the Risorgimento.
Considerable prominence is given to the glorious episode of Brescian insurrection in 1849, the famous Ten Days, and to the battle of Solferino and San Martino that marked the birth of Italy.

The Gallery groups the public collections of the town and the refined collector Paolo Tosio’s. It tells the history of painting in Brescia from its origins up to the 19th century. Besides the masterpieces of Raffaello and Lotto, are the remarkable works of the artists of the school of Brescia of the 15th-16th century: Foppa, Savoldo, Romanino, Moretto, Gambara and the extraordinary works of Giacomo Ceruti also known as Pitocchetto, an artist working in Brescia in the first decades of the 18th century.

F The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art

Housed in the main cloister of the convent of San Giuseppe, it exhibits items of the diocese of Brescia from the 4th to the 19th century. Particularly interesting and precious is the collection of liturgical vestments and religious works. The museum regularly organizes small but qualitative exhibitions of works coming from important international museums.

Museums and Churches

G Association of Art and Spirituality

The museum exhibits over four hundred works, mostly of graphics, by important contemporary artists such as Chagall, Dalì, Matisse, De Chirico and Picasso. The collection was formed by PaoloVI, the Pope from Brescia.

H The Museum of Natural History

The pieces have been collected by the Brescia Academy since the beginning of the 19th century. Collections of mineralogy, paleontology, botany, zoology, micology and paleethnology.

The seat of the museum is being settled in the disused industrial area of the town. The storehouses can be visited by appointment.

1 The Old Cathedral

The church, built at the end of the 11th century, is also known as "Rotonda" (round) because of its characteristic shape. It represents an extraordinary exception among the medieval cathedrals generally built with a nave and two side aisles. Among the masterpieces in the cathedral is the Sarcophagus of Bishop Berardo Maggi, made of Verona red marble, Our Lady of the Assumption’s altar-piece by Moretto on the high altar, and the frescos of the 13th c. which adorn the vault of the presbytery.

2 The New Cathedral

With its imposing late-Baroque style, made of Botticino white marble, it dominates piazza Paolo VI. In the interior there are works by Moretto, Romanino, Palma the Younger and important sculptures such as the Renaissance sarcophagus of S. Apollonius.

This can be considered as Moretto’s temple. The painter, who lived and worked nearby, is buried here, close to several of his works which adorn almost every altar.

Some important works by Moretto and Romanino are kept here. During the Forty Hours’Adoration there is a magnificent Baroque celebration.

5 The Church of Sant’Afra in Sant’Eufemia

Among the several altar paintings is the Martyrdom of Sant’Afra by Paolo Veronese.

6 The Church of Sant’Angela Merici

Not far from the Picture-Gallery, this church contains works from the mannerist epoch. Particularly remarkable is the painting by Tintoretto by the high altar. According to tradition, the remains of the Patron Saints Faustino and Giovita were buried near the sanctuary immediately after their martyrdom.

7 The Church of Sant’Alessandro

On the first altar on the right is the Annunciation, masterpiece of Jacopo Bellini.

8 The Church of the Saints Nazaro and Celso

Displayed here is one of the masterpieces of the history of Renaissance art: the polyptych painted by Tiziano in 1522 for the Cardinal Altobello Averoldi. The panel of San Sebastiano was particularly appreciated by the Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso I d’Este, Vecelio’s great client, who tried to secure the work by any means.

The niche of the façade, built to protect a miraculous image of the Virgin, now placed inside the church, represents the first fully-mature sculptural work of the Brescian Renaissance.

11 The Church of Santa Maria della Pace

In the elegant church of the 18th century, built by the Venetian architect Massari, there are two paintings by Pompeo Batoni. Adjoining the church the visitor can admire the imposing palace which belonged to the condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni.

12 The Church of San Giovanni Evangelista

Among the Renaissance works arranged in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament are paintings by Romanino and Moretto.

13 The Church of Santa Maria del Carmine

Located in a popular quarter of the town, this imposing church has unusual external decorations in terracotta. It contains several works of art among which a Lamentation of dead Christ, in polychrome terracotta and frescos by Foppa and Ferramola.

It is the church of Brescian ancient guilds that once housed several chapels aligned in the side naves. The very precious organ of Graziadio Antegnati is still used for concerts.

15 The Church of the Saints Faustino and Giovita

The church, dedicated to the Patron Saints of the town, is a centre of particular devotion for the people of Brescia who crowd the traditional fair and the religious celebrations.
In the apse, the frescos by Giandomenico Tiepolo are notable.
The adjoining cloister, which has been restored recently and is now the seat of the State University, well deserves a visit.

Located at the end of the picturesque lane which, from the church of Santa Giulia climbs to the Castle, the church, in Renaissance style, stands on a terrace from which a beautiful view of the town can be enjoyed.

This was the ancient convent of the Gesuati where an important cycle of frescos of the 15th-16th century has been found in the course of the restoration work which has been carried out over recent years.

M Piazza della Loggia

The project of the square was decided in the first half of the 15th century by the new Venetian governors of the town, but it reached its completion only in the following century.

Monte di Pietà

This is the most ancient building in the square, which was completed in 1489. The Municipality wanted Roman gravestones and ornaments found in the territory to be given prominence and this was undoubtedly an early example of a museum of the town’s history.

Torre dell’Orologio

Built in mid-16th century, it houses a beautiful astronomical clock (1544) with characteristic statues, i mach de le ure (the fools of time).

Palazzo della Loggia

The construction of this imposing public building was started in 1492 and it was finished in about 1570 after various events, under the supervision of several architects: Gasparo da Coirano, Palladio, Beretta and Sansovino.The interiors, once decorated with three large paintings by Tiziano, were destroyed by a furious fire in 1575.

N Broletto

Built in 1223, it houses the city council administrative offices and its large hall is used for public meetings. It is topped by the Tower of Pégol, whose bells used to sound to gather all the citizens.
Its interior contains plenty of artistic works from various epochs: medieval frescos in the attic, traces of the frescos by Gentile da Fabriano in the hall of the Prefecture and mannerist frescos along the great staircase and in the halls of the Registry Office.

H Palazzo Martinengo

The basement of this imposing building of the 17th-18th century offers in its basement a modern and accurate reconstruction of the ancient Roman Forum, as well as archaeological finds. The upper floors, with halls richly decorated by remarkable cycles of frescos, are permanently used for important art exhibitions.

O Biblioteca Queriniana

The town library was built in 1750, commissioned by Cardinal Angelo Maria Querini. There are beautiful reading rooms where the original book-cases and decorations have been well preserved.

P Piazza del Mercato

This characteristic and lively market square is surrounded by porticoed buildings of the 16th century. On one side stands the monumental building Martinengo Palatini.

Q Castello