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{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{Short description | City and comune in the region of Lombardy, Italy}}
{{About|the city|the province|Province of Brescia|other uses|}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox Italian comune
| name                = Brescia
| official_name       = Città di Brescia
| native_name         = {{native name|lmo|Brèsa}}
| image_skyline       = {{Photomontage|position=center
| photo1a = Brescia - Duomo Nuovo visto dal castello.jpg
| photo2a = 481BresciaLoggia.jpg 
| photo2b = Brescia Castello torre dei Prigionieri.jpg
| photo3a = Duomo vecchio facciata Brescia.jpg
| photo3b = Tempio Capitolino Piazza del Foro Brescia.jpg 
| photo4a = Tramonto_su_Brescia_(Foto_Luca_Giarelli).jpg
| size = 250
| spacing = 2
| color = #FFFFFF
| border = 0
| foot_montage = Clockwise from top: Night view of Brescia with the [[New Cathedral, Brescia|New Cathedral]] and the Tower of Pégol (right), Capitolium ([[UNESCO]] Heritage), Castle of Brescia, Panorama of Brescia, [[Old Cathedral, Brescia|Old Cathedral]], Piazza della Loggia
}}
| imagesize              = 
| image_alt              = 
| image_caption          = 
| image_flag             = Flag of Brescia.svg
| image_shield           = Coat of arms of Brescia.svg
| shield_alt             = 
| image_map              = 
| map_alt                = 
| map_caption            = 
| nicknames              = {{plainlist|
* ''Leonessa d'Italia'' ("Lioness of Italy")
* ''La città della Mille Miglia'' ("The City of the [[Mille Miglia]]")}}
| motto                  = ''Brixia fidelis'' ("Brescia the faithful")
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map            = Italy Lombardy#Italy
| coordinates            = {{coord|45|32|30|N|10|13|00|E|region:IT-BS_type:city(200,000)|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes  = 
| region                 = [[Lombardy]]
| province               = [[Province of Brescia]] (BS)
| frazioni               = 
| established_title      = First settlement:<br/>Celtic settlement:<br/>Roman settlement:
| established_date       = 1200 BC<br/>7th century BC<br/>89 BC
| mayor_party            = 
| mayor                  = [[Laura Castelletti]]
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_total_km2         = 90.3
| population_footnotes   =<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://brescia.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/19_febbraio_02/brescia-supera-200-mila-abitanti-bono-sara-citta-piu-viva-d69cedba-26d2-11e9-a470-fc09ad5adcfe.shtml |title=Brescia supera i 200 mila abitanti Del Bono: sarà una città più viva |first=Thomas |last=Bendinelli |date=February 2, 2019 |publisher={{Lang|it|Corriere della Sera}}}}</ref>
| population_total       = 200423
| population_as_of       = 1 January 2019
| pop_density_footnotes  = 
| population_demonym     = Bresciano<br>Bresà (Brescian dialect)<br>Brescian (English)
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| elevation_m            = 149
| elevation_max_m        = 874
| elevation_min_m        = 104
| twin1                  = 
| twin1_country          = 
|istat=| saint                  = [[Faustinus and Jovita|Sts. Faustino and Giovita]]
| day                    = 15 February 
| postal_code            = 25121-25136
| area_code              = 030
| website                = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''Brescia''' ({{IPA-it|ˈbreʃʃa|-|It-Brescia.ogg}}, <small>locally</small> {{IPA-it|ˈbreːʃa|}}; {{lang-lmo|link=no|label=[[Eastern Lombard|Lombard]]|Brèsa}} {{IPA-lmo|ˈbrɛsɔ, ˈbrɛhɔ, ˈbrɛsa|}}; {{lang-lat|Brixia}}; {{lang-vec|Bressa}}) is a city and ''[[comune]]'' in the region of [[Lombardy]], in [[Northern Italy]]. It is situated at the foot of the [[Alps]], a few kilometers from the lakes [[Lake Garda|Garda]] and [[Lake Iseo|Iseo]]. With a population of more than 200,000, it is the second largest city in Lombardy and the fourth largest in [[northwest Italy]]. The urban area of Brescia extends beyond the administrative city limits and has a population of 672,822,<ref name=UrbanismiInItalia>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityrailways.it/storage/pdf/01_urbanismi%20ITALIA_2011.pdf |title=Urbanismi in Italia, 2011 |website=cityrailways.it |language=it |access-date=August 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110011158/http://www.cityrailways.it/storage/pdf/01_urbanismi%20ITALIA_2011.pdf |archive-date=November 10, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> while over 1.5&nbsp;million people live in its [[metropolitan area]].<ref name=UrbanismiInItalia/> The city is the administrative capital of the [[Province of Brescia]], one of the largest in Italy, with over 1,200,000 inhabitants.

Founded over 3,200 years ago, Brescia (in antiquity Brixia) has been an important regional centre since pre-Roman times. Its old town contains the best-preserved [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] public buildings in northern Italy<ref name= benic>{{cite web |url=http://www.beniculturali.it/mibac/export/MiBAC/sito-MiBAC/Contenuti/MibacUnif/Comunicati/visualizza_asset.html_1468318012.html |title=Italia langobardorum, la rete dei siti Longobardi italiani iscritta nella Lista del Patrimonio Mondiale dell'UNESCO |website=beniculturali.it |language=it |trans-title=Italia langobardorum, the network of the Italian Longobards sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List |access-date=May 14, 2014 |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030220341/http://www.beniculturali.it/mibac/export/MiBAC/sito-MiBAC/Contenuti/MibacUnif/Comunicati/visualizza_asset.html_1468318012.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name= unesc>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1318.pdf|title=THE LONGOBARDS IN ITALY. PLACES OF THE POWER (568–774 A.D.). NOMINATION FOR INSCRIPTION ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST |website=unesco.org |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> and numerous monuments, among these the [[medieval]] castle, the [[Old Cathedral, Brescia|Old]] and [[New Cathedral, Brescia|New cathedral]], the [[Renaissance]] ''Piazza della Loggia'' and the [[Rationalism (architecture)|rationalist]] ''Piazza della Vittoria''.

The monumental archaeological area of the Roman forum and the [[San Salvatore, Brescia|monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia]] have become a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] as part of a group of seven inscribed as [[Longobards in Italy, Places of Power (568–774 A.D.)|Longobards in Italy, Places of Power]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italialangobardorum.it/eng/sito/brescia/descrizione.asp?seza=2&sezb=6|title="Brescia: description of goods" on Italialangobardorum.it|access-date=May 14, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190655/http://www.italialangobardorum.it/eng/sito/brescia/descrizione.asp?seza=2&sezb=6|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
Brescia is considered to be an important industrial city.<ref>{{cite news|first=Matteo|last=Meneghello|url=http://www.italy24.ilsole24ore.com/art/business-and-economy/2014-11-26/brescia-remains-italy-s-industrial-capital-133804.php?uuid=ABo7sMIC|title=Brescia remains Italy's industrial capital|website=italy24.ilsole24ore.com|date=November 27, 2014|access-date=July 31, 2015|archive-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305223836/http://www.italy24.ilsole24ore.com/art/business-and-economy/2014-11-26/brescia-remains-italy-s-industrial-capital-133804.php?uuid=ABo7sMIC|url-status=dead}}</ref> Metallurgy and production of metal parts, machine tools and firearms are of particular economic significance, along with mechanical and automotive engineering. Among the major companies based in the Brescia metro area there are utility company [[A2A]], automotive manufacturer OMR, steel producers [[Gruppo Lucchini|Lucchini]] and Alfa Acciai, machine tools producers Camozzi and Lonati, firearms manufacturers Fausti, [[Beretta]] and [[Perazzi]], gas equipment manufacturers Sabaf and Cavagna, etc.

Brescia is home to the prestigious [[Mille Miglia]] classic car race that starts and ends in the town.

In the arts, it was nicknamed ''Leonessa d'Italia'' ("The Lioness of Italy") by [[Gabriele d'Annunzio]], who selected [[Gardone Riviera]] (nearby on the shores of [[Garda Lake]]) as his final residence. The estate he built (largely thanks to state-sponsored funding), il [[Vittoriale degli Italiani|Vittoriale]], is now a public institution devoted to the arts; a museum dedicated to him is hosted in his former residence. Brescia is also the setting for most of the action in [[Alessandro Manzoni]]'s 1822 play ''[[Adelchi]]''.

The province is known for being the production area of the [[Franciacorta DOCG|Franciacorta]] sparkling wine, as well as the main source of Italian-produced [[caviar]]. Brescia with her territory was the "European Region of Gastronomy" in 2017 and the "Italian Capital of Culture" with [[Bergamo]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite news | title= Anche Brescia nella Regione europea della gastronomia | newspaper= {{Lang|it|Corriere della Sera}} | date=July 13, 2015 |language=it| url =http://brescia.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/15_luglio_13/anche-brescia-regione-europea-gastronomia-fb75ec00-296e-11e5-8a16-f989e7f12ffa.shtml | first=Federica| last=Bandirali|access-date=June 13, 2016}}</ref>

==History==
{{For timeline}}

===Ancient era===
{{stack|[[File:Parco archeologico di Brescia romana Vittoria alata Brescia.jpg|thumb|''Winged Victory of Brescia'' ([[1st century]] [[Common Era|CE]]).<ref>{{Cite book| first=Clara| last=Stella | title=Brixia. Scoperte e riscoperte| publisher=Skira| year=2003| location= Milano| language=it}}</ref>]]}}
Various myths relate to the founding of Brescia: one assigns it to [[Hercules]], while another attributes its foundation as ''Altilia'' ("the other Ilium") by a fugitive from the siege of [[Troy]]. According to another myth, the founder was the king of the [[Ligures]], Cidnus, who had invaded the [[Padan Plain]] in the late [[Bronze Age]]. ''Colle Cidneo'' (Cidnus's Hill) was named after that version, and it is the site of the medieval castle. This myth seems to have a grain of truth, because recent archaeological excavations have unearthed remains of a settlement dating back to 1,200 BCE that scholars presume to have been built and inhabited by Ligures peoples.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turismobrescia.it/en/percorso/origins-and-roman-brescia |title=History of Brescia: the origins and the Roman Brescia |website=turismobrescia.it |access-date=2014-06-20 |archive-date=2014-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209034028/http://www.turismobrescia.it/en/percorso/origins-and-roman-brescia |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bresciamusei.com/ncastello.asp?nm=15&t=Storia+del+Colle+Cidneo |title=Storia del Colle Cidneo |website=bresciamusei.com |language=it |trans-title=History of the Cidneo Hill |access-date=2014-05-14 |archive-date=2014-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006082902/http://www.bresciamusei.com/ncastello.asp?nm=15&t=Storia+del+Colle+Cidneo |url-status=dead }}</ref> Others scholars{{who|date=October 2023}} attribute{{why|date=October 2023}} the founding of Brescia to the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]]s.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

The [[Gauls|Gallic]] [[Cenomani (Cisalpine Gaul)|Cenomani]], allies of the [[Insubres]], invaded in the [[7th century BC|7th century BCE]], and used the town as their capital. The city became Roman in 225 BCE, when the Cenomani submitted to the Romans. During the [[Carthaginian Wars]], 'Brixia' (as it was called then) was allied with the Romans. During a Celtic alliance against Rome the city remained faithful to the Romans. With their Roman allies the city attacked and destroyed the Insubres by surprise. Subsequently, the city and the tribe entered the Roman world peacefully as faithful allies, maintaining a certain administrative freedom. In 89 BCE, Brixia was recognized as ''civitas'' ("city"), and in 41 BCE, 58 years later, its inhabitants finally received Roman citizenship. [[Augustus]] founded a civil (not military) colony there in 27 BCE, and he and [[Tiberius]] constructed an [[Roman aqueduct|aqueduct]] to supply it.  Roman Brixia had at least three temples, an aqueduct, a theatre, a forum with another temple built under [[Vespasianus]], and some baths.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

When [[Constantine I|Constantine]] advanced against [[Maxentius]] in 312 [[Common Era|CE]], an engagement took place at Brixia in which the enemy was forced to retreat as far as [[Verona]]. In 402, the city was ravaged by the [[Visigoths]] of [[Alaric I]]. During the 452 invasion of the [[Huns]] under [[Attila]], the city was besieged and sacked. Forty years later, it was one of the first conquests by the Gothic general [[Theoderic the Great]] in his war against [[Odoacer]].{{fact|date=October 2023}}

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Brescia - Castello.jpg|thumb|left|The castle of Brescia.]]

In 568 (or 569), Brescia was taken from the [[Byzantine]]s by the [[Lombards]], who made it the capital of one of their semi-independent duchies. The first duke was Alachis, who died in 573. Later dukes included the future kings of the Lombards [[Rothari]] and [[Rodoald]], and Alachis II, a fervent anti-Catholic, who was killed in battle at [[Cornate d'Adda]] in 688. The last king of the Lombards, [[Desiderius]], also held the title Duke of Brescia.

In 774, [[Charlemagne]] captured the city and ended the presence of the Lombard kingdom in northern Italy. Notingus was the first (prince-)bishop (in 844) who bore the title of [[count]] (see [[Bishopric of Brescia]]). From 855 to 875, under [[Louis II of Italy|Louis II the Younger]], Brescia became ''de facto'' capital of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Later the power of the bishop as imperial representative was gradually opposed by the local citizens and nobles, resulting in Brescia becoming a [[free commune]] around the early 12th century. Subsequently, it expanded into the nearby countryside, first at the expense of the local landholders, and later against the neighbouring communes, notably [[Bergamo]] and [[Cremona]]. Brescia defeated the latter twice at [[Pontoglio]], then at the Grumore (mid-12th century) and in the battle of the Malamorte (Bad Death) (1192).

In 1138, Brescia experienced a communal revolt against the local Bishop Manfred led by radical reformer and [[Canons regular]] [[Arnold of Brescia]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Moore|first=R. I.|title=The Origins of European Dissent|publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=1994|isbn=0-8020-7566-5|location=London|pages=117}}</ref> This revolt broke out due to the city's involvement in the ecclesiastical and political conflict that resulted from the [[1130 papal election]]. This controversial election divided the [[College of Cardinals]] and caused a schism between [[Pope Innocent II]] (who had the minority vote) and [[Antipope Anacletus II]] (who had the majority vote). During the early 1130s, when Anacletus had power over Brescia, he appointed Bishop Villanus to the diocese, but in 1132 Innocent regained control and installed Manfred. Despite Manfred supporting the reformed clergy, which Brescia had historical supported with its proximity to [[Milan]] and the [[Pataria]] reform movement in the 11th century, Manfred was cast out as he clashed with the growth of the commune and the local nobility.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Greenway|first=George William|title=Arnold of Brescia|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1931|location=Cambridge|pages=23–25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Schmitz-Esser|first=Romedio|title=Exile in the Middle Ages: Selected proceedings from the International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds 8–11 July 2002|publisher=Brepols|year=2004|editor-last=Napran|editor-first=Laura|location=Turnhout|pages=216|chapter=Arnold of Brescia in Exile: April 1139 to December 1143 – His Role as a Reformer, Reviewed}}</ref> The revolt began around 1135 and was manageable at first, but by 1138 Manfred was forced to seek papal support and left for Rome. Arnold is believed to have joined the revolt around this time, as contemporary historian [[John of Salisbury]] records that Arnold only 'so swayed the minds of the citizens that they would scarcely open their gates to the bishop on his return.'<ref>{{Cite book|last=Moore|first=R. I.|title=The Birth of Popular Heresy|publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=1995|isbn=0-8020-7659-9|location=London|pages=67}}</ref> Manfred was therefore forced to return to Rome and was likely witness to the [[Second Council of the Lateran]] in 1139, after which he obtained Pope Innocent's support and had Arnold exiled from Italy. Arnold's home was Brescia, but he would never return to the city; instead he developed his reform ideology while in exile and continued to dissent against the Church. He worked with intellectual [[Peter Abelard]] (who he potentially studied under in the 1110s) who was condemned of heresy at the [[Councils of Sens|Council of Sens]] 1141 and went on to join the [[Commune of Rome]] in 1148, which led to his execution by [[Frederick Barbarossa]] and [[Pope Adrian IV]] in 1155.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Johnson|first=Phillip D.|title=Arnold of Brescia: Apostle of Liberty in Twelfth-Century Europe|publisher=Wipf & Stock|year=2016|location=Eugene|pages=32–42, 68–75, 85–125}}</ref>

[[File:Torre della Pallata lato ovest Brescia.jpg|thumb|150px|left|The [[Pallata Tower, Brescia|Pallata Tower]].]]

During the struggles of the 12th and 13th centuries between the Lombard cities and the Holy Roman emperors, Brescia was implicated either in league with the emperors or against them. In the [[Battle of Legnano]] the contingent from Brescia was second in size to that of [[Milan]]. The [[Peace of Constance]] (1183) that ended the war with [[Frederick Barbarossa]] confirmed officially the free status of the ''comune''. In 1201 the ''[[podestà]]'' [[Rambertino Buvalelli]] made peace and established a league with Cremona, Bergamo, and [[Mantua]]. Memorable also was the [[siege of Brescia|siege]] laid by the Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]] in 1238 on account of the part taken by Brescia in the [[Battle of Cortenova]] (1237). Brescia came through this assault victorious. After the fall of the [[Hohenstaufen]], republican institutions declined in Brescia as in the other free cities and the leadership was contested between powerful families, chief among them the Maggi and the Brusati, the latter of the (pro-imperial, anti-papal) [[Ghibelline]] party.  In 1258 the city fell into the hands of [[Ezzelino III da Romano|Ezzelino da Romano]].

In 1311 [[Emperor Henry VII]] laid siege to Brescia for six months, losing three-fourths of his army. Later the [[Scaliger]] of Verona, aided by the exiled Ghibellines, sought to place Brescia under subjugation. The citizens of Brescia then had recourse to [[John I of Bohemia|John of Luxemburg]], but [[Mastino II della Scala]] expelled the governor appointed by him. His mastery was soon contested by the [[Visconti of Milan]], but not even their rule was undisputed, as [[Pandolfo III Malatesta]] took possession of the city in 1406. However, in 1416 he bartered it to [[Filippo Maria Visconti]] duke of Milan, who in 1426 sold it to the Venetians. The Milanese nobles forced Filippo to resume hostilities against the Venetians, and thus to attempt the recovery of Brescia, but he was defeated in the [[Battle of Maclodio]] (1427), near Brescia, by general [[Francesco Bussone da Carmagnola|Carmagnola]], commander of the Venetian mercenary army. In 1439, Brescia was once more besieged by [[Francesco Sforza]], captain of the Venetians, who defeated [[Niccolò Piccinino]], Filippo's [[condottiero]]. Thenceforward Brescia and the province were a Venetian possession, only disrupted by the French conquest in 1512.

===Early Modern era===
{{stack|
[[File:Mortier, Pierre (1661-1711), Mappa di Brescia a inizio Settecento.jpg|thumb|Map of Brescia in the early 18th century.]]
[[File:Broletto cortile e cupola duomo nuovo Brescia.jpg|thumb|The dome of the New Cathedral.]]
}}
Brescia has had a major role in the [[history of the violin]]. Many archive documents very clearly testify that from 1490 to 1640 Brescia was the cradle of a magnificent school of string players and makers, all styled "maestro", of all the different kinds of stringed instruments of the Renaissance: [[viola da gamba]] (viols); [[violone]]; [[lyra]]; [[lyrone]]; [[Violetta (instrument)|violetta]]; and [[viola da brazzo]]. So you can find from 1495 "maestro delle viole" or "maestro delle lire" and later, at least from 1558, "maestro di far violini" that is master of violin making. From 1530 the word violin appeared in Brescian documents and spread in later decades throughout north of Italy, reaching Venezia and Cremona.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

Early in the [[16th century]], Brescia was one of the wealthiest cities of Lombardy, but it never recovered from [[List of battles of the Italian Wars#Brescia|its sack by the French]] in 1512.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

The "Sack of Brescia" took place on 18 February 1512, during the [[War of the League of Cambrai]].  The city of Brescia had revolted against French control, garrisoning itself with [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] troops. [[Gaston of Foix, Duke of Nemours|Gaston de Foix]], recently arrived to command the French armies in Italy, ordered the city to surrender; when it refused, he attacked it with around 12,000 men.  The French attack took place in a pouring rain, through a field of mud; Foix ordered his men to remove their shoes for better traction.<ref>Baumgartner, ''Louis XII'', 220.</ref> The defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the French, but were eventually overrun, suffering 8,000 – 15,000 casualties.<ref>Baumgartner, ''Louis XII'', 220; Norwich, ''History of Venice'', 421.  Baumgartner gives 8,000 as a minimal estimate, while Norwich gives 15,000.</ref> The [[Gascony|Gascon]] infantry and [[landsknechts]] then proceeded to thoroughly sack the city, massacring thousands of civilians over the next five days.  Following this, the city of [[Bergamo]] paid some 60,000 [[ducat]]s to the French to avoid a similar fate.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

The French occupied Brescia until 1520, when Venetian rule resumed. Thereafter, Brescia shared the fortunes of the Venetian republic [[Fall of the Republic of Venice|until the latter fell]] at the hands of French general [[Napoleon Bonaparte]].{{fact|date=October 2023}}

In 1769, in the [[Brescia explosion]], the city was devastated when the Bastion of San Nazaro was struck by [[lightning]].  The resulting fire ignited {{convert|90000|kg|t lb ST|abbr=on}} of [[gunpowder]] stored there, causing a massive explosion which destroyed one-sixth of the Brescia and killed 3,000 people.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

In 1799, during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]], the fortress, occupied by French troops, fell to the advancing allies of the [[Second Coalition]] (see [[Capture of Brescia]]).

===19th century and later===
[[File:Piazza della Vittoria Brescia.jpg|thumb|Piazza della Vittoria, example of Italian [[Rationalism (architecture)|rationalism]], built between 1927 and 1932 by the architect [[Marcello Piacentini]].]]

In the [[Napoleonic era]], Brescia was part of the various [[revolutionary republics]] and then of the [[Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy]] after Napoleon became Emperor of the French. After the end of the Napoleonic era in 1815, Brescia was annexed to the Austrian puppet state known as the [[Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia]].

Brescia revolted in [[Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian states|1848]]; then again in March 1849, when the Piedmontese army invaded Austrian-controlled Lombardy, the people in Brescia overthrew the hated local Austrian administration, and the Austrian military contingent, led by [[Julius Jacob von Haynau|general Haynau]], retreated to the Castle ({{ill|Castello di Brescia|it}}). When the larger military operations turned against the Piedmontese, forcing them to retreat, Brescia was left to its own resources. Still, the citizens managed to resist recapture by the Austrian army for ten days of bloody and obstinate street fighting that are now celebrated as the [[Ten Days of Brescia]]. This prompted poet [[Giosuè Carducci]] to nickname Brescia "Leonessa d'Italia" ("Italian Lioness"), since it was the only Lombard town to rally to King [[Charles Albert]] of Piedmont (and to the cause of [[Italian unification]]) in that year.

In 1859, the city was conquered by the Italian troops and Brescia was included in the newly founded [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Kingdom of Italy]].

The city was awarded a gold medal for its resistance against Fascism in [[World War II]].

On 28 May 1974, it was the seat of the bloody [[Piazza della Loggia bombing]].

==Geography==
{{wide image|Brescia ed il Castello dalla Panoramica.jpg|800px|Panoramic view of the city}}

===Topography===

Brescia is located in the north-western section of the [[Po Valley]], at the foot of the [[Brescia and Garda Prealps|Brescian Prealps]], between the [[Mella (river)|Mella]] and the Naviglio, with the [[Lake Iseo]] to the west and the [[Lake Garda]] to the east (but it has also other important lakes like Idro and Moro<ref>{{cite news|title=Best 5 lakes of Brescia|url=http://www.bsnews.it/2018/04/25/best-5-lakes-of-brescia/|access-date=April 24, 2018|date=April 24, 2018}}</ref>). The southern area of the city is flat, while towards the north the territory becomes hilly. The city's lowest point is {{convert|104|m}} above sea level, the highest point is [[Monte Maddalena]] at {{convert|874|m}}, while the centre of the town is {{convert|149|m|ft}}. The administrative comune covers a total area of {{convert|90.3|km2|mi2}}.

Modern Brescia has a central area focused on residential and tertiary activities. Around the city proper, lies a vast urban agglomeration with over 600,000 inhabitants that expands mainly to the north, to the west and to the east, engulfing many communes in a continuous urban landscape.

{{Multiple image
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 | image1 = Vista aerea Brescia 16-07-2019.jpg
 | width1 = 240
 | image2 = Brescia Est e Panoramica dal Castello.jpg
 | width2 = 280
 | image3 = Panorama di Brescia SO dalla Via Panoramica.jpg 
 | width3 = 375
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 | width4 = 281
 | footer_align = center
 | footer = From left to right: panoramic views of the city from South and from West, panoramic view of the city centre and the business district
}}

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Brescia has a mid-latitude [[humid subtropical climate]] ('''''Cfa'''''). Its average annual temperature is {{convert|13.7|°C|0}}: {{convert|18.2|°C|0}} during the day and {{convert|9.1|°C|0}} at night. The warmest months are June, July, and August, with high temperatures from {{convert|27.8|°C|0}} to {{convert|30.3|°C|0}}. The coldest are December, January, and February, with low temperatures from {{convert|-1.5|°C|0}} to {{convert|0.6|°C|0}}.

Winter is moderately cold, but not harsh, with some snow, mainly occurs from December through February, but snow cover does not usually remain for long. Summer can be sultry, when humidity levels are high and peak temperatures can reach {{convert|35|°C|0}}. Spring and autumn are generally pleasant, with temperatures ranging between {{convert|10|°C|0}} and {{convert|20|°C|0}}.

The relative humidity is high throughout the year, especially in winter when it causes fog, mainly from dusk until late morning, although the phenomenon has become increasingly less frequent in recent years.

Precipitation is spread evenly throughout the year. The driest month is December, with precipitation of 54.6&nbsp;mm (2.1&nbsp;in), while the wettest month is May, with 104.9&nbsp;mm (4.1&nbsp;in) of rain.

{{Weather box
|location = Brescia 
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 19.9
|Feb record high C = 22.0
|Mar record high C = 27.3
|Apr record high C = 30.6
|May record high C = 35.3
|Jun record high C = 38.0
|Jul record high C = 39.0
|Aug record high C = 38.4
|Sep record high C = 33.3
|Oct record high C = 29.0
|Nov record high C = 22.8
|Dec record high C = 17.0
|year record high C = 39.0
|Jan high C = 5.0
|Feb high C = 8.5
|Mar high C = 14.2
|Apr high C = 18.6
|May high C = 23.1
|Jun high C = 27.8
|Jul high C = 30.3
|Aug high C = 29.4
|Sep high C = 25.1
|Oct high C = 18.5
|Nov high C = 11.6
|Dec high C = 6.8
|year high C = 18.2
|Jan mean C = 1.8
|Feb mean C = 4.4
|Mar mean C = 9.6
|Apr mean C = 13.7
|May mean C = 17.9
|Jun mean C = 22.3
|Jul mean C = 24.6
|Aug mean C = 23.9
|Sep mean C = 20.1
|Oct mean C = 14.3
|Nov mean C = 8.1
|Dec mean C = 3.7
|year mean C = 13.7
|Jan low C = -1.5
|Feb low C = 0.3
|Mar low C = 4.9
|Apr low C = 8.8
|May low C = 12.7
|Jun low C = 16.7
|Jul low C = 19.0
|Aug low C = 18.4
|Sep low C = 15.1
|Oct low C = 10.0
|Nov low C = 4.5
|Dec low C = 0.6
|year low C = 9.1
|Jan record low C = -19.4
|Feb record low C = -14.6
|Mar record low C = -9.3
|Apr record low C = -2.5
|May record low C = 0.2
|Jun record low C = 5.2
|Jul record low C = 9.4
|Aug record low C = 8.1
|Sep record low C = 3.8
|Oct record low C = -5.8
|Nov record low C = -8.2
|Dec record low C = -15.2
|year record low C = -19.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 63.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 64.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 71.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 83.0
|May precipitation mm = 104.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 99.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 86.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 101.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 72.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 98.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 87.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 54.6
|year precipitation mm = 986.5
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.6
|Feb precipitation days = 6.4
|Mar precipitation days = 6.9
|Apr precipitation days = 9.4
|May precipitation days = 10
|Jun precipitation days = 8.8
|Jul precipitation days = 6.5
|Aug precipitation days = 6.7
|Sep precipitation days = 5.6
|Oct precipitation days = 7.0
|Nov precipitation days = 8.3
|Dec precipitation days = 6.2
|year precipitation days = 88.4
|Jan humidity = 86
|Feb humidity = 81
|Mar humidity = 75
|Apr humidity = 76
|May humidity = 73
|Jun humidity = 71
|Jul humidity = 72
|Aug humidity = 72
|Sep humidity = 75
|Oct humidity = 79
|Nov humidity = 85
|Dec humidity = 86
|year humidity = 78
|source 1 = Archivio climatico Enea-Casaccia,<ref name=Enea>{{cite web
| url = http://clisun.casaccia.enea.it/Profili/tabelle/079%20%5BBrescia%5D%20capoluogo.Txt
| title = Profilo climatico dell'Italia: Brescia
| language = it
| publisher = Ente per la Nuove tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente
| access-date = July 31, 2015
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160108234634/http://clisun.casaccia.enea.it/Profili/tabelle/079%20%5BBrescia%5D%20capoluogo.Txt
| archive-date = January 8, 2016
| df = mdy-all
}}</ref> Ispra (precipitation)<ref name=Ispra>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.acq.isprambiente.it/annalipdf/
| title = Media pluviometrica del trentennio 1961–1990 della stazione meteorologica di Brescia – Annali idrologici del Compartimento idrografico di Parma
| publisher = Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale
| access-date = July 31, 2015
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150730043725/http://www.acq.isprambiente.it/annalipdf/
| archive-date = July 30, 2015
| df = mdy-all
}}</ref>
|source 2 = Servizio Meteorologico (humidity 1961–1990 and extremes 1951–present recorded at [[Ghedi Air Base|Brescia Ghedi Air Base]])<ref name=SM1>{{cite web
| url = http://clima.meteoam.it/AtlanteClim2/pdf/(088)Brescia%20Ghedi.pdf
| title = Brescia/Ghedi (BS) 
| work = Atlante climatico
| publisher = Servizio Meteorologico
| access-date = January 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name=SM2>
{{cite web
| url = http://clima.meteoam.it/web_clima_sysman/Clino6190/CLINO088.txt
| title = STAZIONE 088-BRESCIA GHEDI: medie mensili periodo 61 – 90 
| publisher = Servizio Meteorologico
| access-date = January 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name=extremes>
{{cite web
| url = http://climaintoscana.altervista.org/italia/stazioni-wmo/brescia-ghedi/
| title = Brescia Ghedi: Record mensili dal 1951
| publisher = Servizio Meteorologico dell'Aeronautica Militare
| language = it
| access-date = January 5, 2015}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| title= Population census
| cols= 2
| percentages = pdgr
| align = left
|footnote = [[Istituto Nazionale di Statistica|Istat]] historical data 1861–2021<ref name="historical.istat">{{cite web|title=Historical population, 1861–2021|url=http://seriestoriche.istat.it/index.php?id=1&no_cache=1&tx_usercento_centofe%5Bcategoria%5D=2&tx_usercento_centofe%5Baction%5D=show&tx_usercento_centofe%5Bcontroller%5D=Categoria&cHash=5dc94093f50e10c9e55a034d4c6ba123|publisher=[[Istat]]|access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
||
||
||
|1861 |56878
|1871 |58539
|1881 |62899
|1901 |73033
|1911 |87210
|1921 |103636
|1931 |114607
|1936 |123332
|1951 |142059
|1961 |172744
|1971 |210047
|1981 |206661
|1991 |194502
|2001 |187561
|2011 |189902
|2021 |197304
|
}}

In 2015, there were 196,480 people residing in Brescia, of whom 47.1% were male and 52.9% were female. Minors (children aged 0–17) totalled 16% of the population compared to pensioners who number 24.6%. This compares with the Italian average of 16.5% (minors) and 22% (pensioners). In the four years between 2011 and 2015, the population of Brescia grew by 3.9%, while Italy as a whole grew by 2.1%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://demo.istat.it/bil2015/index_e.html|title=Demographic Balance for the year 2015 and Resident Population from on 31st December|website=demo.istat.it|access-date=June 13, 2016|archive-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016044429/http://demo.istat.it/bil2015/index_e.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current birth rate of Brescia is 7.9 births per 1,000 inhabitants compared to the Italian average of 8 births.

Brescia is one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in Italy. In 2018, the foreign-born residents represented 12% of the total population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://demo.istat.it/str2018/query.php?lingua=eng&Rip=S1&Reg=R03&Pro=P017&Com=29&paese=A9999&submit=Tavola|title=Foreign Citizens. Resident Population by sex and Demographic Balance on 31st December 2018|website=demo.istat.it|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://demo.istat.it/bil2018/query.php?lingua=eng&Rip=S1&Reg=R03&Pro=P017&Com=29&submit=Tavola|title=Demographic Balance for the year 2018 and Resident Population from on 31st December|website=demo.istat.it|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref> The largest immigrant group comes from other European nations (mostly [[Romania]], [[Ukraine]], [[Moldova]] and [[Albania]]), the others from South Asia (mostly [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]) and North Africa. The city is predominantly [[Roman Catholic]], but due to immigration now has some [[Orthodoxy#Christianity|Orthodox Christian]], [[Sikhism in Italy|Sikh]] and [[Muslim]] followers.

In 2006 there were about 1,000 people of Pakistani origins living in Brescia.<ref name=PophamInd>{{cite web|author=Popham, Peter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/murder-of-muslim-girl-rebel-by-her-father-shocks-all-italy-6232053.html|title=Murder of Muslim girl 'rebel' by her father shocks all Italy|work=[[The Independent]]|date=August 20, 2006|access-date=December 3, 2019}}</ref>
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = 
|caption = Foreign residents as of 2018
|label1 = Italian
|value1 = 88.2
|color1 = #003399
|label2 = European
|value2 = 9.2
|color2 = #4080bf
|label3 = African
|value3 = 2.0
|color3 = #ffff00
|label4 = Asian
|value4 = 0.2
|color4 = #66ff33
|label5 = Latin American
|value5 = 0.3
|color5 = #ac00e6
|label6 = Other
|value6 = 0.1
|color6 = #ffa31a
}}
{{col-break|gap=2em}}
{|class=
|-
! '''Country of foreign nationality''' ||Population at 1 January 2020
|-
|{{flag|Romania}} ||4,588
|-
|{{flag|Pakistan}} ||3,616
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}} ||2,870
|-
|{{flag|Moldova}} ||2,427
|-
|{{flag|China}} ||2,397
|-
|{{flag|Egypt}} ||2,193
|-
|{{flag|India}} ||2,178
|-
|{{flag|Albania}} ||2,014
|-
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}} ||1,707
|-
|{{flag|Philippines}} ||1,624
|-
|{{flag|Morocco}} ||1,283
|-
|{{flag|Bangladesh}} ||1,208
|-
|{{flag|Senegal}} ||1,050
|-
|others||each <1,000
|}
{{col-end}}

==Government==
[[File:Brescia - Palazzo della Loggia (48743449898).jpg|thumb|Palazzo della Loggia, Brescia City Hall.]]
[[File:415BresciaBroletto.jpg|thumb|Palazzo Broletto, seat of the [[Province of Brescia|Province]] and of the [[Prefecture]] of Brescia.]]
{{See also|List of mayors of Brescia}}
Since local government political reorganization in 1993, Brescia has been governed by the City Council of Brescia, which is based in ''Palazzo della Loggia''. Voters elect directly 32 councilors and the Mayor of Brescia every five years.

Brescia was generally considered in the past one of the most important political [[bellwether]] in Italy. Historical stronghold of [[Christian Democracy (Italy)|DC]] party, in 1994 it was the city in which was firstly experimented the newborn political center-left coalition formed by members of former [[Italian Communist Party|PCI]] and DC parties against [[Silvio Berlusconi]]'s center-right coalition: that year the last secretary of [[Christian Democracy (Italy)|DC]] and former minister, [[Mino Martinazzoli]], run as mayor with the support of the leftist [[Democratic Party of the Left|PDS]] and won the election defeating the [[Forza Italia]]-[[Lega Nord]] bloc candidate, endorsed by Berlusconi. This experience is considered even today one of the bases of [[Romano Prodi]]'s [[The Olive Tree (political coalition)|The Olive Tree]] political coalition.

Since then to 2008 the center-left coalition held the largest number of seats with a partnership administration based on the alliance between the major left-wing, green and independents parties. Anyway, in the 2008 local elections the center-right coalition formed by Silvio Berlusconi's [[People of Freedom]] party and the regionalist [[Lega Nord]] won for the first time the majority in the City Council. These elections occurred the same day Berlusconi's coalition achieved an outright majority across the country. However, in the 2013 elections the [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] achieved an outright majority across the city and the center-left coalition became again the major force in the City Council. In the 2018 local elections the center-left coalition obtained even the 54% of the votes on the first round and the [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]], which obtained nearly the 35% of the votes, gained 15 seats out of 32 in the City Council. In the 2023 local elections the center-left coalition obtained again the 54% of the votes on the first round.

The current Mayor of Brescia is [[Laura Castelletti]], a [[Center-left coalition|center-left]] [[Independent (politician)|independent]], elected on 20 May 2023. She previously served as deputy Mayor for 10 years between 2013 and 2023.

Brescia is also the capital of its own province. The Provincial Council is seated in ''Palazzo Broletto''.

===Subdivision===
The city of Brescia is divided in 5 boroughs called ''zone''. Each ''zona'' is subdivided into a different number of ''quartieri''. Here is a list of Brescia's ''zone'' and ''quartieri'':

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Zona
! Population <br /><small>31 December 2017</small>
! class="unsortable" | Map
|-
| Historical Centre
| style="text-align:right;"|41,856
| rowspan="15"|[[File:Brescia quartieri mappa 2014.jpg|250px|Zones of Brescia.]]
|-
| North
| style="text-align:right;"|41,427
|-
| West
| style="text-align:right;"|37,082
|-
| South
| style="text-align:right;"|45,360
|-
| East
| style="text-align:right;"|29,844
|-
| '''Total'''
| style="text-align:right;"|'''196,305'''
|}
{|
|-
| colspan="3" | 
|-
|  style="width:250px; vertical-align:top;"|
'''Historical Centre'''
*1 Brescia Antica
*2 Borgo Trento
*3 Porta Milano
*4 Centro Storico Nord
*14 Porta Venezia
*27 Centro Storico Sud
*30 Crocifissa di Rosa
'''North'''
*11 Mompiano
*15 Villaggio Prealpino
*17 San Bartolomeo
*22 Casazza
*28 Sant'Eustacchio
*29 San Rocchino 
|  style="width:250px; vertical-align:top;"|
'''West'''
*5 Chiusure
*7 Fiumicello
*21 Urago Mella
*23 Villaggio Badia
*25 Villaggio Violino
*26 Primo Maggio
'''South'''
*6 Don Bosco
*8 Folzano
*9 Fornaci
*10 Lamarmora
*12 Porta Cremona-Volta
*20 Chiesanuova
*24 Villaggio Sereno
|  style="width:250px; vertical-align:top;"|
'''East'''
*13 Buffalora 
*16 Caionvico
*18 Sant'Eufemia della Fonte
*19 San Polo Case
*31 San Polo Cimabue
*32 Sanpolino
*33 San Polo Parco
|}

==Main sights==
The old town of Brescia (characterized, in the north-east, by a rectangular plan, with the streets that intersect at right angles, a peculiarity handed down from Roman times) has a significant artistic and archaeological heritage, consisting of various monuments ranging from the ancient age to contemporary.

===UNESCO World Heritage monuments===
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| WHS           = Monumental area with the monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia
| image         = File:Brescia Capitolium UNESCO.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption       = The ''Capitolium'' in the Roman forum
| location      = Brescia, Italy
| part_of       = [[Longobards in Italy, Places of Power (568–774 A.D.)|Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568–774 A.D.)]]
| criteria      = {{UNESCO WHS type|(ii), (iii), (vi)}}(ii), (iii), (vi)
| ID            = 1318-002
| coordinates   = {{coord|45.539852777814|10.228133333342|format=dms}}
| year          = 2011
| area          = {{convert|3.75|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| buffer_zone   = {{convert|84.13|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
}}
In 2011, [[UNESCO]] inscribed the monumental area with the monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia in the [[World Heritage List]], belonging to the group known as "[[Longobards in Italy, Places of Power (568-774 A.D.)]]".

====Monumental area of the Roman forum====
This is the archaeological complex where there are the best-preserved Roman public buildings in the [[northern Italy]],<ref name= benic/><ref name= unesc/> composed of:

*''Republican sanctuary''
:It is under the Capitoline temple. It has been built in the 1st century BC and it is the oldest structure of the [[Forum (Roman)|forum]]. It consists of four rectangular rooms next to each other and inside then there are the remains of the original [[mosaic]] floors and the wall [[frescoes]], which from a stylistic point of view and state of preservation are comparable to those of [[Pompeii]].<ref name= arc >{{cite web|url=http://www.italialangobardorum.it/eng/sito/brescia/area_archeologica.asp?seza=2&sezb=6&sezc=|title=Brescia: monumental area|website=italialangobardorum.it|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-date=May 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517161951/http://www.italialangobardorum.it/eng/sito/brescia/area_archeologica.asp?seza=2&sezb=6&sezc=|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since the spring of 2015, the western room has opened to the public, while the rest of the building is still undergoing archaeological excavation and restoration.
*''[[Capitolium of Brixia]]''
:The primary temple in the city, it was dedicated to the cult of the [[Capitoline Triad]]. It was built in 73 AD and consists of three ''[[cella]]e'' that have preserved much of the original polychrome [[marble]] floors,<ref name= arc /> while their interior walls are now a [[lapidarium]] displaying ancient Roman [[epigraphy|epigraphs]] collected in the 19th century. In front of the cellae, is a fragmentary [[portico]], composed of [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]] columns that support a [[pediment]] containing a dedication to the [[Emperor Vespasian]]. Almost entirely buried by a landslide of the Cidneo Hill, it was rediscovered in 1823 through various archaeological campaigns. During excavation in 1826, a splendid bronze statue of a [[Nike (mythology)|winged Victory]] was found inside it, likely hidden in late antiquity to preserve it from pillage. After restoration completed in 2013, the site reopened as a new archaeological park. 
*''Roman theatre''
:It is located immediately at east of the Capitolium. It has been built in the [[Flavian dynasty|Flavian era]] and altered in the 3rd century. With its 86 meters diameter, is one of the largest [[Roman theatre (structure)|Roman theatres]] in northern Italy and originally it housed around 15,000 spectators. In the 5th century, an earthquake has heavily damaged the building. In addition, in later centuries, its remains were incorporated into new buildings built on top of it, largely demolished starting from the 19th century. Of the original structure are preserved the semicircular perimeter walls, the two side passages (''aditus'') and the remains of the ''[[proscenium]]'', as well as many fragments of columns and friezes of the ''[[scaenae frons]]''. The most of the ''orchestra'' and the ''ima [[cavea]]'' are still below ground. The archaeological excavations should resume in the coming years.

Near the Capitolium is located the ''Palazzo Maggi Gambara'', an aristocratic palace built in the 16th century on top of the west ruins of the Roman theatre.

====Monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia====
{{further|San Salvatore, Brescia}}
{{Multiple image
 | align = center
 | image1 = Museo di Santa Giulia chiese Santa Giulia San Salvatore Brescia.jpg
 | width1 = 247
 | image2 = Museo di Santa Giulia chiostro Sudorientale Brescia.jpg
 | width2 = 314
 | image3 = Museo di Santa Giulia chiostro settentrionale Brescia.jpg
 | width3 = 365
 | footer_align = center
 | footer = Monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia}}
[[File:Santa maria in solario (brescia) int2.jpg|thumb|right|The interior of the church of Santa Maria in Solario with the [[Cross of Desiderius]].]]
[[File:Museo di Santa Giulia Domus dell'Ortaglia Brescia.jpg|thumb|right|''Domus dell'Ortaglia'', remains of a group of ancient Roman ''[[domus]]''.]]
The monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia is an outstanding architectural palimpsest,<ref name= benic /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italialangobardorum.it/eng/sito/brescia/san_salvatore.asp?seza=2&sezb=6&sezc=|title=Brescia: San salvatore-Santa Giulia complex|website=italialangobardorum.it|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-date=May 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517155718/http://www.italialangobardorum.it/eng/sito/brescia/san_salvatore.asp?seza=2&sezb=6&sezc=|url-status=dead}}</ref> today transformed into the ''Museo di Santa Giulia'', which contains about 11,000 works of art and archaeological finds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bresciamusei.com/santagiulia.asp|title=Santa Giulia Museum Complex|website=bresciamusei.com |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> During the period of Longobard domination, Princess [[Anselperga]], daughter of King [[Desiderius]], headed the monastery. It consists of:

*''Basilica of San Salvatore''
:It has been built in 753 by Duke of Brescia Desiderius, future Lombard king, and his wife Ansa. It is characterized by the simultaneous use of the Longobards stylistic elements and decorative motifs of classical and Byzantine art and it is one of the most important examples of High Middle Ages architecture in Italy.<ref>{{Cite book| author= Pierluigi De Vecchi|author2=Elda Cerchiari | title=L'arte nel tempo| publisher= Bompiani| year=1991| location= Milano| language=it}}</ref> The basilica has a nave with two apses and has a transept with three apses. It is located over a pre-existing church, which had a single nave and three apses. Expanded in the following centuries, it houses various works of art, including the ''Stories of St. Obizio'' painted by [[Romanino]] and ''Stories of the Virgin and the infancy of Christ'' by Paolo Caylina il Giovane,<ref name= monastic>{{Cite book| first= Renata| last= Stradiotti| title=San Salvatore – Santa Giulia a Brescia. Il monastero nella storia| publisher= Skira| year=2001| location= Milano| language=it}}</ref> as well as others from the Carolingian age.
*''Church of Santa Maria in Solario''
:It has been built in the mid-12th century as a chapel inside the monastery. It has a square base with an octagonal lantern and has two internal levels.<ref name= monastic/> Four vaults, supported in the centre by an ancient Roman altar, covers the lower floor, while a hemispherical dome covers the upper chamber, that has, into the east wall, three small apses. Inside there are frescoes by [[Floriano Ferramola]] and two of the most important pieces of the treasure of the ancient monastery: the [[Brescia Casket]] (that consists of a small ivory box dating the 4th century) and the Cross of Desiderius (made of silver and gold plate, studded with 212 precious gems).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italialangobardorum.it/eng/sito/brescia/san_salvatore_monastero.asp?seza=2&sezb=6&sezc=|title=Brescia: Longobard Monastery|website=italialangobardorum.it|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-date=May 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517172620/http://www.italialangobardorum.it/eng/sito/brescia/san_salvatore_monastero.asp?seza=2&sezb=6&sezc=|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*''The nuns' choir''
:It is placed between the Basilica of San Salvatore and the church of Santa Giulia. It has been built between the late 15th and early 16th century and it is on two levels. The lower level is the old churchyard covered for access to the basilica. The upper floor is the real choir, made up by a room covered by a barrel vault, which is connected to the east with San Salvatore by three small windows with a grating, on the west by Santa Giulia through an arch. The interior of the choir is entirely decorated with frescoes painted by Ferramola and Caylina, and inside are shown different funerary monuments of the Venetian age, including the ''Martinengo Mausoleum'', a masterpiece of the Renaissance sculpture in Lombardy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bresciamusei.com/nsantagiulia.asp?nm=7&t=The+choir|title=Santa Giulia Museum Complex: the choir.|website=bresciamusei.com |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref>
*''Church of Santa Giulia''
:It has been built between 1593 and 1599. The façade, made of Botticino marble, is decorated with a double row of pilasters of the Corinthian order, separated by a rich marble frieze and connected to the sides by volutes. The inside consists of a spacious nave covered with a barrel vault. In the church, there are no sacred furniture and there are only a few scraps of the frescoes that originally decorated each surface. Although annexed to the monastery, it is not part of the ''Museo di Santa Giulia'' and is used as a conference room.<ref name= monastic/>

In the former vegetable garden of this monastery have been discovered a group of Roman [[domus]] called ''Domus dell'Ortaglia'' that were used between the 1st and 4th centuries and they are some of the best preserved domus in northern Italy.

===Other sights===
{{Multiple image
 | align = center
 | image1 = Palazzo Monte di Pietà nuovo Monte vecchio Loggia Brescia.jpg
 | width1 = 475
 | image2 =Brescia Torre Orologio e macc dele ure Piazza Loggia.jpg
 | width2 = 112
 | image3 = Brescia Torre Orologio e macc dele ure Da Via Beccaria.jpg
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 | footer = ''Palazzo Monte di Pietà'' in ''Piazza della Loggia'' and the ''[[Torre dell'Orologio, Brescia|Torre dell'Orologio]]'' with the astronomical clock.}}

[[File:Cathedral of Brescia.jpg|thumb|The two cathedrals of Brescia: the Old (at right) and the New (at left).]]
[[File:Chiesa di San Faustino a Brescia facciata.jpg|thumb|The church of San Faustino and Giovita.]]
[[File:Cimitero Vantiniano monumento Giovanni Battista Bossini a Brescia.jpg|thumb|The [[Monumental cemetery of Brescia|Monumental Cemetery]] and the ''Lighthouse of Brescia''.]]
[[File:Brescia Teatro Grande interno.jpg|thumb|Teatro Grande.]]
[[File:Piazzale Arnaldo e Mercato dei grani da est a Brescia.jpg|thumb|Piazza [[Arnaldo da Brescia|Arnaldo]]]]
[[File:Tramonto civile - panoramio.jpg|thumb|A view of [[Brescia Due]] with its skyscrapers: the tallest one is the [[Crystal Palace, Brescia|Crystal Palace]].]]

*'''Piazza della Loggia''', example of [[Renaissance]] ''piazza'', with the eponymous ''Palazzo della [[Loggia]]'' (current Town Hall), construction began in 1492 under the direction of Filippo de' Grassi and completed only in the 16th century by [[Jacopo Sansovino|Sansovino]] and [[Palladio]]. [[Luigi Vanvitelli|Vanvitelli]] designed the upper room of the palace (1769). On the south side of the square are two 15th–16th century ''[[Monti di Pietà]]'' (Christian lending houses). Their façades are embedded with ancient Roman tombstones, one of oldest antique lapidary displays in Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turismobrescia.it/en/punto-d-interesse/old-and-new-monte-di-pieta|title=The Old and New Monte di Pietà |website=turismobrescia.it |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> At the centre of the east side of the square stands the ''[[Torre dell'Orologio, Brescia|Torre dell'Orologio]]'', a tower with a large astronomical clock (mid-16th-century) on top of which there are two copper anthropomorphic automata which strike the hours on a bell. On May 28, 1974, the square was targeted by the [[Piazza della Loggia bombing|terrorist bombing]].
*'''[[Old Cathedral, Brescia|Duomo Vecchio]]''': the ''Old Cathedral'' also known as ''La Rotonda'' is circular 11th-century [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] church. The main structure, with rustic exteriors, was built atop ruins of an earlier basilica. Near the entrance is the pink marble sarcophagus of Berardo Maggi, while in the presbytery is the entrance to the crypt of San Filastrio. The structure houses masterworks by [[Alessandro Bonvicino]] (''il Moretto''); [[Girolamo Romanino]], [[Palma il Giovane]], [[Francesco Maffei]], and others.<ref>[http://www.bresciainvetrina.it/bresciaarte/duomovecchio.htm#top Duomo Vecchio]. bresciainvetrina.it.</ref>
*'''[[New Cathedral, Brescia|Duomo Nuovo]]''': construction of the ''New Cathedral'' began in 1604 and only completed in 1825. Initially designed by Palladio, economic shortfalls led to a younger local architects and artists completing initial work, including decorations by [[Pietro Maria Bagnadore]]. The interior has major frescoes by [[Il Moretto]]. The high altarpiece is by [[Giacomo Zoboli]] (1735). The main attraction is the ''Ark of Sts Apollonius and [[Filastrius]]'' (1510).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bresciainvetrina.it/bresciaarte/duomonuovo.htm|title=Duomo Nuovo Brescia|website=www.bresciainvetrina.it}}</ref>
*'''[[Broletto, Brescia|Broletto]]''': the 12th- and 13th-century Town Hall, now houses offices of both the commune and province. On the Piazza front is the balcony from where the medieval city officials spoke to the townsfolk; on the north side, rises a tall tower called "Tower of Pégol" or "Tower of the People" (the [[Eastern Lombard|Lombard]]: ''Tòr del Pégol''), whose bells were once used to summon the citizens in moments of distress.
*'''Piazza della Vittoria''', an example of Italian [[Art Déco]] architecture. It was built between 1927 and 1932 by architect [[Marcello Piacentini]] through the demolition of part of the medieval old town and it has an L-shape. On the inside corner right there is the [[Torrione INA]], the first skyscraper built in Italy.<ref name= sky>{{Cite book| author= Franco Robecchi|author2=Gian Paolo Treccani | title=Piazza della Vittoria| publisher= Grafo| year=1993| location= Brescia| language=it}}</ref> In the north background there is the large ''Palazzo delle poste'' ("Post Office building"), with its ocher-white two-tone upholstery. The ''Torre della Rivoluzione'' ("Tower of the Revolution") and three other buildings, recalling the classical architecture, complete the square.
*'''Piazza del Foro''': site of the Roman forum. In addition to the already mentioned ''Capitolium'', ''republican sanctuary'' and ''Roman theatre'', various other remains are visible in the area. Among these, on the south side of the square, are scanty remains of a building called the ''curia'', which may have been a basilica.
*'''Palazzo Martinengo Cesaresco Novarino''': mid-17th-century palace, now home to art exhibitions and an underground archaeological exhibit, depicting city's history from the early [[Iron Age]] to the present day, concentrating in a single place 3,000 years of urban history of Brescia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.provinciadibresciaeventi.com/palazzo-martinengo/|title=Palazzo Martinengo|website=provinciadibresciaeventi.com|language=it|url-status=dead|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121752/http://www.provinciadibresciaeventi.com/palazzo-martinengo/|archive-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref>
*'''[[Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Brescia)|Santa Maria dei Miracoli]]''': (1488–1523) church with fine façade by [[Giovanni Antonio Amadeo]], decorated with bas-reliefs and a Renaissance ''[[peristilium]]''. It is considered a jewel of Renaissance sculpture in Lombardy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turismobrescia.it/en/punto-d-interesse/church-santa-maria-dei-miracoli|title=Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli|website=turismobrescia.it |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref>
*'''[[San Francesco, Brescia|San Francesco]]''': Romanesque-Gothic church and cloisters.
*'''Castle of Brescia''': also known as ''Falcone d'Italia'' ("falcon of Italy"), locate atop Cidneo Hill at the northeast angle of the town. Built between the 13th and the 16th century and among the largest castles in Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turismobrescia.it/en/punto-d-interesse/castle|title=The Castle |website=turismobrescia.it |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> Besides commanding a fine view of the city and a large part of the surrounding area, and being a local favorite recreational area, it hosts the Arms Museum, with a fine collection of weapons from the Middle Ages onwards; the Risorgimento Museum, dedicated to the Italian independence wars of the 19th century; an exhibition of model railroads; and an astronomical observatory.
*'''[[Santi Nazaro e Celso (Brescia)|Santi Nazaro e Celso]]''': church housing the [[Averoldi Polyptych]] by [[Titian]].
*'''[[Santi Faustino e Giovita (Brescia)|San Faustino e Giovita]]''': church also known as ''San Faustino Maggiore''. The interior has a fresco depicting ''Apotheosis of Sts Faustino, Jovita, Benedict and Scholastica'' by [[Giandomenico Tiepolo]].
*'''[[Santa Maria delle Grazie, Brescia|Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie]]''': basilica church built between the 16th and 17th centuries with Baroque frescoes and stucco, and a work of Il Moretto.
*'''[[San Giuseppe, Brescia|San Giuseppe]]''': 16th-century church houses frescoes and decoration including fourteen ''Stations of the Cross of St. Joseph'' (1713) by [[Giovanni Antonio Capello]]. The church houses the tombs of [[Gasparo da Salò]], one of the inventors of the modern violin and [[Benedetto Marcello]], Baroque musician. Inside it, there is one of the oldest [[Organ (music)|organs]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite book| author= Francesco de Leonardis| title=Guida di Brescia| publisher= Grafo Edizioni| year=2008| location= Brescia| language=it}}</ref>
*'''[[San Clemente (Brescia)|San Clemente]]''': church with paintings by Bonvicino.
*'''[[Torre della Pallata, Brescia|Torre della Pallata]]''': massive tower built in 1254 as part of the medieval walls. In the 15th century, the clock, merlons, and turret added. The fountain on the western side was designed in 1597 by Bagnadore.
*'''San Giovanni''': church with a refectory painted jointly by il Moretto and il Romanino.
*'''[[San Marco Evangelista, Brescia|San Marco Evangelista]]''': a small 13th-century Romanesque-style church.
*'''[[San Mattia alle Grazie]]''': a suppressed 13th-century former church.
*'''[[Monumental cemetery of Brescia|Monumental Cemetery]]''': also known as ''Vantiniano'', is the largest cemetery in Brescia, designed around 1813 by [[Rodolfo Vantini]]. It is the first monumental cemetery built in Italy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.touringclub.com/monumento/lombardia/brescia/cimitero-vantiniano.aspx|title=Cimitero Vantiniano|website=touringclub.com|language=it|trans-title=Vantiniano Cemetery |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> and at its centre stands the ''Lighthouse of Brescia'' (60 meters tall) which has inspired the architect [[Heinrich Strack]] for the design of the [[Berlin Victory Column]].<ref>{{Cite book| first= Valerio| last= Terraroli| title=Il Vantiniano: la scultura monumentale a Brescia tra Ottocento e Novecento| publisher= Grafo| year=1990| location= Brescia| language=it}}</ref>
*'''[[Teatro Grande]]''': [[opera house]] renovated several times between the mid-17th and mid-19th century. The name ''Grande'' ("Big") is derived from the former name ''Il Grande'' ("The Great") in honour of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]. The horseshoe-shaped auditorium is richly decorated and has five galleries. Since 1912, the theatre is a [[national monument]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teatrogrande.it/uncategorized/teatro-grande-100-anni-da-monumento-nazionale/|title=Teatro Grande, 100 anni da Monumento Nazionale|website=teatrogrande.it|language=it|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517134102/http://www.teatrogrande.it/uncategorized/teatro-grande-100-anni-da-monumento-nazionale/|archive-date=May 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*'''Biblioteca Queriniana''', containing rare early manuscripts, including the [[Codex Brixianus]], a 14th-century manuscript of [[Dante]], and some rare [[incunabula]].
*[[Brescia Due]]: a [[Central business district|business district]] located in the southern part of the city.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ritratti di città. Brescia frattale |url=https://ilgiornaledellarchitettura.com/2018/11/20/ritratti-di-citta-brescia-frattale/}}</ref>
*[[Crystal Palace, Brescia|Crystal Palace]]: as a part of Brescia Due, is the tallest habitable structure of the city with 110 meters of height,<ref name=":0" /> it was built by the architect [[Bruno Fedrigolli]] between 1988 and 1992 and according to the first project this [[skyscraper]] would be the tallest one in Italy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brescia, la ferita che non si chiude |url=https://bsnews.it/2020/06/07/brescia-la-ferita-che-non-si-chiude/}}</ref>

The city has no fewer than seventy-two public fountains. The stone quarries of [[Botticino]], {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=on}} east of Brescia, supplied marble for the [[Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II]] in Rome.

===Museums===
[[File:Raffaello Angelo 1 (frammento pala Baronci).jpg|thumb|Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo: ''Angel'' by [[Raphael]].]]

The most important museums of Brescia are the following:
*[[Museo di Santa Giulia]] ("Santa Giulia Museum"): it is the city Museum, situated in the monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia, which has a rich Roman section. One of the masterpieces is the bronze statue of a winged Victory, originally probably a Venus, converted in antiquity into the Victory by adding the wings; it is said to be in the act of writing the winner's name on her shield (now lost). Also very interesting, one of the very few places in the world where the remains of two Roman domus can be visited on their original site simply by strolling into one of the museum halls.
*[[Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo]], the municipal art gallery; it hosts works of the painters of the Renaissance Brescian school, [[Girolamo Romanino]], [[Alessandro Bonvicino]] and [[Giovanni Battista Moroni]]. After an extensive remodeling the museum reopened in 2018 with a refreshed interior showcasing the art hung on contemporary fabric covered walls.
* Museo della Mille Miglia ("Mille Miglia Museum"). Situated inside the former Monastery of S. Eufemia, the museum celebrates the history of the 1,000-mile car race from Brescia to Rome and back that began in 1927. It shows films, memorabilia, dresses, posters, and a number of classic cars that are periodically replaced by other in case of participation in events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museomillemiglia.it/en/ |title=Mille Miglia Museum Website |website=museomillemiglia.it |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>
* Museo Diocesano di Brescia ([[Diocesan museum of Brescia, Italy|"Diocesan Museum of Brescia"]]). It is located in the former Monastery of St. Joseph and houses a permanent collection of sacred artworks, including paintings, [[illuminated manuscript]]s, as well as one of the most extensive collections of [[vestment]]s in Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diocesi.brescia.it/museodiocesano/ |title=Museo Diocesano di Brescia Website |website=diocesi.brescia.it |language=it|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>
* Museo Nazionale della fotografia ("National Museum of Photography"). It hosts a collection of photographic and cinematographic machines, along with various camera accessories and a photo library with about 60,000 photographs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museobrescia.net/it/ |title=Museo Nazionale della fotografia Website |website=museobrescia.net |language=it|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>
* Museo delle Armi "Luigi Marzoli" (""Luigi Marzoli" Arms Museum"). Located in the Castle, it is one of the most important European collections of old armour and weaponry. It hosts about 600 pieces of armour, weapons and firearms from the 15th to the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bresciamusei.com/ncastello.asp?nm=17&t=Arms+Museum |title=Arms Museum |website=bresciamusei.com |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>
* Museo degli strumenti musicali e della liuteria bresciana ("Museum of the Musical Instruments and Brescian lutherie"). It hosts string and wind instruments, as well as a rich collection of [[choirbook]]s and musical scores.
* Collezione Paolo VI – arte contemporanea ("Paul VI Collection – Contemporary Art"). It is located in [[Concesio]], on the northern outskirts of Brescia, and hosts the contemporary art collection of [[Pope Paul VI]], composed of about 7,000 works of many famous artists, including [[Matisse]], [[Chagall]], [[Picasso]], [[Dalí]] and others. It was opened on November 8, 2009, inaugurated by [[Pope Benedict XVI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collezionepaolovi.it/index-en.asp?lingua=2 |title=Paul VI Collection Website |website=collezionepaolovi.it |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>

Besides these, there are other museums in Brescia: 
* Museo del Risorgimento ("Risorgimento Museum")
* Ma.Co.f. – Centro della fotografia italiana ("Centre of Italian photography")
* Museo del Ferro - Museo dell'Industria e del Lavoro ("Museum of Industry and Labour")
* The Beatles Museum
* Museo Ken Damy della Fotografia contemporanea
* AmbienteParco - Museo dell'Acqua ("Water Museum")
* Museo di Scienze Naturali ("Natural Science Museum")
* Museo Piamarta - Istituto Artigianeli
* Casa Museo Paolo VI di Concesio

===Parks===
{{Multiple image
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 | footer = From left to right: ''Parco delle Cave'', ''Parco Mazzolari'' and ''Parco Ducos'' in winter 
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Due to its location in the foothills of the Alps, Brescia has forests close to the city centre. About 80% of its municipal territory is covered by woodlands and farmlands: total amount of public green space is {{convert|26.3|km2|sqmi|1}}, or {{convert|134|m2|sqft}} per inhabitant, while agricultural zones cover an area of {{convert|45.6|km2|sqmi|1}}.<ref name=park>{{cite web|url=http://www.comune.brescia.it/servizi/ambienteeverde/parchiegiardini/Documents/bresciaCittaVerdeIntroeParchiterritoriali.pdf|title=Brescia, una città sempre più verde.|website=comune.brescia.it|language=it|access-date=July 31, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223111814/http://www.comune.brescia.it/servizi/ambienteeverde/parchiegiardini/Documents/bresciaCittaVerdeIntroeParchiterritoriali.pdf|archive-date=December 23, 2015}}</ref>

The largest park of Brescia is ''Parco delle Colline di Brescia'' ("Brescia Hills Park") that has a total surface of {{convert|43.09|km2|mi2}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reti.regione.lombardia.it/cs/Satellite?c=Redazionale_P&childpagename=DG_Reti%2FDetail&cid=1213605519435&pagename=DG_RSSWrapper|title=Parco delle Colline di Brescia|website=reti.regione.lombardia.it|language=it|access-date=July 31, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> of which {{convert|21.83|km2|mi2}} fall within the city limits.<ref name=park/> The park was established in 2000 with the purpose of preserving, safeguarding, and enhancing the natural heritage of the hills surrounding Brescia. Woods cover about 70% of the surface of the park; the rest consists of meadows, vineyard and olive plantations. The most common plants in the park are [[Ostrya carpinifolia|hop-hornbeam]], [[downy oak]], [[sweet chestnut]], [[manna ash]], but there is also the presence of Mediterranean species such as [[Pistacia terebinthus|terebinth]], [[tree heath]], [[bay laurel]] and [[Quercus ilex|holm oak]]. The fauna of the park includes foxes, [[European badger]]s, [[wild boar]]s and other mammals, while the most common birds are [[European robin|robin]]s, [[common blackbird|blackbird]]s, [[blackcap]]s and [[Eurasian wren|wren]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comune.brescia.it/servizi/ambienteeverde/parcodellecolline/Documents/rel_ecologica.pdf|title=Caratteristiche ecologiche del Parco delle Colline di Brescia|website=comune.brescia.it|language=it|access-date=July 31, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223120326/http://www.comune.brescia.it/servizi/ambienteeverde/parcodellecolline/Documents/rel_ecologica.pdf|archive-date=December 23, 2015}}</ref>

In 2018 another public park known as ''Parco delle Cave'' was opened on the site of former sand quarries in the south of the city. After the full opening at the end of 2021, now the park covers a surface of 2 square kilometers.

Other parks are scattered throughout the city, such as ''Parco del Castello'' ("Castle Park"), ''Parco Tarello'', ''Parco Mazzolari'', ''Parco Ducos'' and ''Campo di Marte''.

==Education==
[[File:Santa Chiara - Facoltà di Economia - Brescia (Foto Luca Giarelli).jpg|thumb|University of Brescia, Economics faculty.]]
[[File:Facciata del Liceo Arnaldo Brescia.jpg|thumb|[[Liceo classico|Classic lyceum]] "[[Arnold of Brescia|Arnaldo]]", established in 1797, is one of the oldest and most prominent high schools in Brescia.]]
As 2019, in Brescia there are 51 primary schools, of which 42 public and 9 private. There are also 29 [[Secondary education in Italy|lower secondary schools]], of which 21 public and 8 private.<ref>[http://www.comune.brescia.it/servizi/scuolaeuniversita/Pagine/default.aspx Comune di Brescia, Scuole](Italian). Retrieved May 4, 2020.</ref>

Referring to [[Secondary education in Italy|upper secondary schools]], in Brescia there are 53 schools, of which 20 are private and 33 are public. Amongst them there are 3 [[Liceo classico|classic lyceums]] and 13 [[Liceo scientifico|scientific lyceums]].

Brescia has two universities: 
* [[University of Brescia]] is a public university founded in 1982 and ranked among the Top 700 universities worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2014#sorting=rank+region=+country=174+faculty=+stars=false+search=|title=QS World University Rankings® 2014/15|website=topuniversities.com|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> It is divided into 4 faculties: Economics, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Surgery.
* Catholic University of Brescia, founded in 1968, is a satellite campus of the [[Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore]]. It is divided into 6 faculties: Literature and Philosophy; Psychology; Education; Language Sciences and Foreign Literature; Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences; Political and Social Sciences.

Brescia is also home of two academies of fine art (''[[Libera Accademia di Belle Arti]]'' (LABA) and ''Accademia di Belle Arti SantaGiulia'') and a conservatory of music (''Conservatorio Luca Marenzio'').

==Healthcare==
Brescia is an important medical centre. The main hospital of the city is ''Spedali Civili di Brescia'', which has 2,180 beds and an employed staff of 6,175.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senato.it/application/xmanager/projects/leg17/attachments/documento_evento_procedura_commissione/files/000/001/177/SLIDE_1presentazIone_Azienda.pdf|title=Spedali Civili di Brescia|website=senato.it |language=it |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> It was founded in 1427 and is considered the second best hospital in Italy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Il Civile secondo miglior ospedale italiano |newspaper = {{Lang|it|Giornale di Brescia}} |date=October 3, 2013 |language=it|url =http://www.giornaledibrescia.it/brescia-e-hinterland/il-civile-secondo-miglior-ospedale-italiano-1.1777004|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> Other hospitals are located in the city: ''Fondazione Poliambulanza'', ''Casa di Cura S. Camillo'', ''Istituto Clinico S. Anna'' and ''Istituto Clinico Città di Brescia''.

==Economy==
The city is at the centre of the third largest Italian industrial area.<ref>{{cite news | title=Brescia ritorna il terzo polo industriale. Ma l'occupazione rischia un nuovo calo. | newspaper= {{Lang|it|Corriere della Sera}} | date=February 26, 2014 |language=it|trans-title=Brescia becomes again the third largest industrial centre. But for the employment rate is likely a new drop.| url = http://brescia.corriere.it/brescia/notizie/economia/14_febbraio_26/brescia-ritorna-terzo-polo-industriale-ma-l-occupazione-rischia-nuovo-calo-745475ce-9ec4-11e3-a5c9-783ac0edee3c.shtml | author=Massimiliano Del Barba}}</ref> The local [[Confindustria]], the AIB – Associazione Industriale Bresciana (Industrial Association of Brescia), was the first industry association founded in Italy in 1897.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aib.bs.it/chi_siamo/storia|title=AIB-Associazione Industriale Bresciana. La storia.|website=aib.bs.it|language=it|trans-title=AIB-Industrial Association of Brescia. The history. |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> The Brescian companies are typically a small or medium-sized, often family-run, ranging from the food to the engineering industry.

===Agriculture===
[[File:Vigneto Pusterla Ronco Capretti e Ronchi Brescia.jpg|thumb|right|Vineyards in the middle of the city with an extension of {{cvt|4|ha}}]]
The [[viticulture]] is the most important agricultural sector of the Brescian [[food system]]. The municipality of Brescia is part of the production areas of five different wines: a [[DOCG]] wine, i.e. the ''[[Franciacorta DOCG|Franciacorta]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agraria.org/vini/disciplinarefranciacorta.htm|title=Franciacorta DOCG, disciplinare di produzione|website=agraria.org|language=it|trans-title=Franciacorta DOCG, production regulations |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> three [[Denominazione di origine controllata|DOC]] wines (''Botticino'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agraria.org/vini/botticino-doc.htm|title=Botticino DOC|website=agraria.org|language=it|access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> ''Cellatica''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agraria.org/vini/cellatica-doc.htm|title=Cellatica DOC|website=agraria.org|language=it|access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> and ''Curtefranca''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agraria.org/vini/curtefranca-doc.htm|title=Curtefranca DOC|website=agraria.org|language=it|access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref>) and an [[Indicazione geografica tipica|IGT]] wine (''Ronchi di Brescia''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agraria.org/vini/ronchi-di-brescia-igt.htm|title=Ronchi di Brescia IGT|website=agraria.org|language=it|access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref>). In addition, in its old town, along the northern slope of the Cidneo Hill, there is the largest urban [[vineyard]] in Europe,<ref>{{cite news | title=Il vigneto Pusterla rinasce e torna alla famiglia Capretti | newspaper=Bresciaoggi | date=September 11, 2012 | language=it | trans-title=The vineyard Pusterla reborn and returns to the family Capretti. | url=http://www.bresciaoggi.it/stories/Cronaca/406729_il_vigneto_pusterla_rinasce_e_torna_alla_famiglia_capretti/ | first=Michela | last=Bono | access-date=May 14, 2014 | archive-date=February 26, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226060707/http://www.bresciaoggi.it/stories/Cronaca/406729_il_vigneto_pusterla_rinasce_e_torna_alla_famiglia_capretti/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> characterized by the cultivation of ''Invernenga'', a local white grape variety present in Brescia since Roman times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slowfood.it/sloweb/3E6E345B18d4b1BDE9kwX34A439A/un-bianco-ultracentenario-nel-cuore-di-brescia|title=Un bianco ultracentenario nel cuore di Brescia.|website=slowfood.it|language=it|trans-title=A centuries-old white wine in the heart of Brescia.|url-status=dead|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225141905/http://www.slowfood.it/sloweb/3E6E345B18d4b1BDE9kwX34A439A/un-bianco-ultracentenario-nel-cuore-di-brescia|archive-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref>

Another very important sector is the production of [[olive oil]], especially in the nearby area of Lake Garda. The European Union has recorded as [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union|PDO]] two typologies of extra virgin olive oils and they are ''Garda'' and ''Laghi lombardi''.

Brescia is also the homeland of Italian [[caviar]]. In [[Calvisano]], about {{convert|30|km}} south of the city centre, is located the world's largest sturgeons farm<ref>{{cite news|first=Jane|last=Black|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/world/americas/26iht-caviar.2943297.html|title=Caviar from farms instead of the seas|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 26, 2006 |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> that produces annually 25 tonnes of caviar exported all over the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.quibrescia.it/cms/2015/03/26/e-brescia-la-capitale-mndiale-del-caviale/|title=E' Brescia la capitale mondiale del caviale|language=it|trans-title=Brescia is the world capital of caviar|website=quibrescia.it |date=March 26, 2015 |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>

===Industry and services===
[[File:Rascacielos Crystal Palace Brescia.JPG|thumb|left|220px|[[Brescia Due|The business district of Brescia]].]]

The main industrial activities of Brescia are those mechanical, specialized in the production and distribution of machine tools. Also important is the production of [[motor vehicle]], represented by the [[Officine Meccaniche|OM]], which is the manufacturer of [[Iveco]] trucks, and the production of [[weapons]], among which the Fausti, [[Beretta]], Fabarm and [[Perazzi]].  ''Fausti has been manufacturing hunting and competition shotguns since 1948 with great care and passion, and century-old traditions with modern technological advances.  The company, founded by Cavalier Stefano Fausti, is now run by his three daughters Elena, Giovanna and Barbara.'' Very important is the metallurgical industry. On the outskirts of town, there are two steel mills: the "Alfa Acciai" and "Ori Martin". Other crucial industrial activities are the production of [[cutlery]] and [[faucets]], along with the textile, footwear and clothing, as well as the production of [[building materials]] and [[bricks]]. The intense industrial development has resulted in a high level of [[pollution]] in the outskirts of the city located near the disused chemical factory "Caffaro" that produced PCB. For this reason, this part of the city is in the list of SIN – Siti di Interesse Nazionale (Sites of National Interest). According to a study carried out by the Edison Foundation and [[General Confederation of Italian Industry|Confindustria]] in [[2015]], Brescia is the province with the highest value added by industry in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brescia capitale dell'industria in Europa – BIE |url=https://www.fierabie.com/it/brescia-capitale-dellindustria-in-europa/}}</ref>

Brescia hosts the headquarters of several industry groups, including the [[Gruppo Lucchini|Lucchini]] Group, the Feralpi and the Camozzi Group. Brescia is also home to the [[A2A]] Group (the result of the merger of ASM Brescia, AEM Milano and AMSA).

The financial sector is also a major employer, with the presence of several branches of banks and financial assets. The [[UBI Banca]] Group, fourth largest banking group in Italy, has several division headquarters in the city.

===Tourism===
[[File:Contrada Pozzo dell'Olmo bRESCIA.jpg|thumb|upright|A street in the old town.]]

The significant historical and artistic heritage of Brescia (since 2011 in the UNESCO World Heritage list) and the natural beauties of its surrounding area (like the [[Lake Garda]], the [[Val Camonica]] and the [[Lake Iseo]]) have allowed the city to attract an increasing number of visitors. In 10 years, the number of tourists who visited Brescia has almost doubled from 142,556 in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asr-lombardia.it/RSY/tourism/flows-of-tourists/lombardia-and-provinces/tables/12193/2003/|title=RSY Lombardia-Arrivals and nights spent by guests in accommodation establishments, by type of resort and by type of establishment. Total accommodation establishments. Part III. Tourist resort. Year 2003|website=asr-lombardia.it|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515021402/http://www.asr-lombardia.it/RSY/tourism/flows-of-tourists/lombardia-and-provinces/tables/12193/2003/|archive-date=May 15, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> to over 280,000 in 2013.<ref>{{cite news | title=Turismo, Garda superstar Iseo e Franciacorta in calo | newspaper= {{Lang|it|Corriere della Sera}} | date=March 27, 2014 |language=it| url = http://brescia.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/14_marzo_27/turismo-garda-superstar-iseo-franciacorta-calo-904985d8-b5b4-11e3-88c9-f5f1afba752a.shtml | first=Alessandra| last=Troncana}}</ref>

Additionally, Brescia is close to important tourist destinations ([[Milan]] can be directly reached in 45 minutes by train, [[Venice]] and [[Florence]] in about 2 hours) and is one of the cheapest cities in Italy in terms of hotel stays.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italianvenue.com/news/2015391412-italy-hotel-rates--some-rise-some-drop/|title=Italy, hotel rates: some rise, some drop|website=italianvenue.com|date=March 9, 2015|access-date=July 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222153144/http://www.italianvenue.com/news/2015391412-italy-hotel-rates--some-rise-some-drop/|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=La notte in albergo più conveniente è a Brescia |trans-title=The cheapest overnight stay in a hotel is in Brescia| newspaper= {{Lang|it|Giornale di Brescia}} | date=March 6, 2014 |language=it| url =http://www.giornaledibrescia.it/brescia-e-hinterland/la-notte-in-albergo-la-pi%C3%B9-conveniente-%C3%A8-a-brescia-1.1836770|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Gli hotel di Brescia sono 3 volte più convenienti di Milano |trans-title=Hotels in Brescia are three times cheaper than in Milan| newspaper= {{Lang|it|Corriere della Sera}} | date=April 23, 2015 |language=it| url =http://brescia.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/15_aprile_23/expo-hotel-brescia-3-volte-piu-convenienti-milano-bergamo-varese-monza-e78c680e-e990-11e4-8a77-30fcce419003.shtml | first=Matteo| last=Trebeschi|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> For these reasons, tourists often use Brescia as a base to explore the surrounding places.

==Transport==
Brescia Mobilità (BM) is the statutory corporation responsible for the transport network in Brescia; it operates one metro line (Brescia Metro) and 19 urban bus lines. Besides public transport, BM manages the interchange parking lots and other transportation services including [[bike sharing]] and [[carsharing]] systems.

Since 2004 in the city center of Brescia is active a traffic restricted zone or ZTL ({{lang-it|Zona a Traffico Limitato}}). The objective of the ZTL, together with a program of pedestrianizations of the main squares and streets of the historical center, is to drastically reduce the chronic traffic jams that take place in the city of Brescia, promoting [[sustainable mobility]] and public transport, and decreasing the existing levels of smog that have become unsustainable from the point of view of public health.

===Brescia Metro===
[[File:Metropolitana di Brescia - Fermata Vittoria - banchina.JPG|thumb|left|200px|A station of [[Brescia Metro]].]]

The [[Brescia Metro]] is a [[rapid transit]] network that opened on 2 March 2013.<ref name="cityrailways.it">{{cite web |url=http://www.cityrailways.it/news/la-metro-di-brescia-apre-sabato-2-marzo.html |title=La metro di Brescia apre sabato 2 marzo |website=CityRailways.it |language=it |trans-title=The Brescia Metro opens March 2 |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012193235/http://www.cityrailways.it/news/la-metro-di-brescia-apre-sabato-2-marzo.html |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The network comprises one line, {{convert|13.7|km|0}} long,<ref name="mappe">{{cite web |url=http://www.bresciamobilita.it/public/resources/brescia%20mobilita/utenti/metrobs/linea-completa.pdf|title=Mappa della linea metropolitana |publisher=Brescia Mobilitá |language=it |access-date=November 7, 2013}}</ref> with 17 stations<ref name="mappe" /> between ''Buffalora'' and ''Prealpino'', of which 13 are underground.

The first projects for a metro in Brescia date back to the 1980s, with the introduction of the first fully automatic light metro systems in other mid-size cities in Europe.
Two feasibility studies were commissioned in 1987. The automatic light metro system was chosen as the best technology for the city. The first public tender was announced in 1989. But this project was then cancelled in 1996.

In 1994, the first application for public financing was issued. The public financing form the central government arrived in 1995, while other funds arrived in 2002 from the [[Lombardy|Region]]. The international public bid for the first phase of the project was announced in 2000. The winning proposal was from a group of companies comprising [[Ansaldo STS]], [[AnsaldoBreda]], [[Astaldi]] and [[Acciona]], with a system similar to that of the Copenhagen metro.

A€575&nbsp;million contract was awarded to a consortium led by [[Ansaldo STS]] in April 2003.<ref name=rgi200804>{{cite news | title=Automation in a medium-sized city | publisher=Railway Gazette International | date=April 2008 | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//automation-in-a-medium-sized-city.html | author=Francesco Di Maio | access-date=October 19, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524005629/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/automation-in-a-medium-sized-city.html | archive-date=May 24, 2012 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Work started in January 2004, but archaeological finds caused delays and required station redesigns.<ref name="cityrailways.it"/><ref name="opening">{{cite web |url=http://www.bresciamobilita.it/news/parte-la-metro-2-marzo-2013 |title=Parte la metro! 2 marzo 2013 |publisher=Brescia Mobilitá |language=it |trans-title=The Metro goes! March 2, 2013 |date=February 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012211621/http://www.bresciamobilita.it/news/parte-la-metro-2-marzo-2013 |archive-date=October 12, 2013 }}</ref>

===Planned tram network===
[[File:Mappa tram Brescia.svg|thumb|Brescia's former tram network (1882–1949)]]
[[File:Progetto rete tranviaria di Brescia.svg|thumb|The project of the new tramway network]]
The city is due to reintroduce trams after dismantling its former network in the 1940s. Two light rail lines are due to open in 2027.<ref name=:x1>{{cite web|url=https://www.metro-report.com/news/news-by-region/europe/single-view/view/brescia-tram-funding-proposal-presented.html|title=Brescia tram funding proposal presented|website=Metro Report|date=November 9, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2019}}</ref> Brescia's historic seven-line tram network opened in 1882 and closed in 1949, when the city's transport focus moved onto road-based transport. In 2018, transport authority Brescia Mobilità and Italian state railway [[Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane]] signed an agreement for the construction of two tram lines in Brescia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/light-rail/brescia-to-build-two-tram-lines/|title=Brescia to build two tram lines|website=International Rail Journal|date=April 4, 2018|access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref> One line would run from Pendolina in the northwest to the new Pala Eib sports centre in the southwest, mostly following the line of current bus route 2. The second route would connect Via Vallecamonica in the west and Viale Bornata in the east.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metro-report.com/news/single-view/view/brescia-tram-agreement-signed.html|title=Brescia tram agreement signed|website=Metro Report|date=April 3, 2018|access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref>

===Rail===
[[File:Stazione ferroviaria di Brescia.JPG|thumb|250px|The train station of Brescia.]]

Brescia has three railway stations. The [[Brescia railway station|main station]], which opened in 1854, is located on the [[Milan-Venice railway]] and is the starting point for the [[Brescia–Iseo–Edolo railway|Brescia-Iseo-Edolo]], [[Brescia–Cremona railway|Brescia-Cremona]], [[Brescia–Parma railway|Brescia-Parma]] and [[Bergamo–Brescia railway|Bergamo–Brescia]] rail lines. The station has 15 platforms and is used by about 20 million passengers per year. Other railway stations are ''Borgo San Giovanni'' (a lesser station that is located on the Brescia-Iseo-Edolo railway) and ''Brescia Scalo'', with no passenger service and used as a freight station.

From Brescia, [[high speed trains]] connect to [[Milan]], Rome, [[Naples]], [[Turin]], [[Bologna]], [[Florence]] and [[Venice]]; one can reach Milan in 35 min, Venice in 1h and 35 min, Florence in 2 hours and 15 min and Rome in 3 hours and 35 min. In addition there are international day trains to Zurich, and overnight sleeper services to Paris and Dijon (Thello), Munich and Vienna (ÖBB).

===Roads===
Brescia is connected with the rest of Northern Italy by three motorways:
* [[Autostrada A4 (Italy)|A4]], that is the main axis connecting the city with the east and the west of the country, to cities such as Milan, Turin, Venice and Trieste;
* [[Autostrada A21 (Italy)|A21]], which connects Brescia to Turin with a more southern route than A4;
* A35, which connects Brescia to Milan and the Linate Airport with a faster route than A4.

===Airports===
Brescia is served by the following airports: 
* [[Brescia Airport]], located {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} south-east of the city
* [[Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport]], located {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=on}} north-west of Brescia
* [[Verona Villafranca Airport]], located {{convert|60|km|0|abbr=on}} south-east of Brescia
* [[Milan Linate Airport]], located {{convert|85|km|0|abbr=on}} west of Brescia
* [[Malpensa Airport]], located {{convert|135|km|0|abbr=on}} north-west of Brescia

==Pollution==
Brescia is at the top of the ranking of European cities with the highest preventable mortality burdens for PM2.5 pollution in a new study published in January 2021 by The Lancet Planetary Health,<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Premature mortality due to air pollution in European cities: a health impact assessment|year=2021 |pmid=33482109 |last1=Khomenko |first1=S. |last2=Cirach |first2=M. |last3=Pereira-Barboza |first3=E. |last4=Mueller |first4=N. |last5=Barrera-Gómez |first5=J. |last6=Rojas-Rueda |first6=D. |last7=De Hoogh |first7=K. |last8=Hoek |first8=G. |last9=Nieuwenhuijsen |first9=M. |journal=The Lancet. Planetary Health |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=e121–e134 |doi=10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30272-2 |s2cid=231687871 |doi-access=free |hdl=10230/53387 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> which estimates the death rate associated with fine [[Particulates|particulate matter]] (PM2.5) and [[nitrogen dioxide]] (NO<sub>2</sub>) pollution in 1000 European cities.

Legambiente based on the number of days the legal air-quality limits were breached in 2018. The report said Brescia failed to respect the legal limits for 150 days last year, 103 for ozone and 47 for Pm10 particles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/science_tecnology/2019/01/22/brescia-italys-most-polluted-city_f861236d-96d0-447b-acd9-c31f5df61b80.html|title=Brescia Italy's most polluted city|date=22 January 2019|access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Mille Miglia Museum.jpg|thumb|Mille Miglia Museum.]]

Brescia was the starting and end point of the historical car race [[Mille Miglia]] that took place annually in May until 1957 on a Brescia-Rome-Brescia itinerary, and also the now defunct [[Coppa Florio]], one of the first ever sport motor races.
The Mille Miglia tradition is now kept alive by the "Historic Mille Miglia",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1000miglia.it/|title=1000 Miglia – La corsa più bella del mondo|website=1000 Miglia}}</ref> a world-class event that gathers in Brescia every year thousands of fans of motor sports and of vintage sports cars. The only cars admitted to the race are the ones that could have competed in (although they do not necessarily have to have taken part in) the original Mille Miglia. The race nowadays is not however a speed race anymore, but rather a "regularity" race; speed races have actually been banned on regular roads in Italy because of the deadly accident that killed a driver and ten bystanders in the last minutes of the 1957 Mille Miglia – that therefore became the last of the original races.<br>In recent years, many celebrities have participated in the Mille Miglia, including [[Rowan Atkinson]], [[Daniel Day Lewis]], [[Jeremy Irons]], [[Jay Leno]], [[Brian Johnson]], [[Elliot Gleave]], [[David Gandy]], [[Jodie Kidd]], [[Yasmin Le Bon]] and others.<ref>{{cite news|first=Matthew|last=Bell|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/the-mille-miglia-buckle-up-for-an-exhilarating-grand-tour-9323484.html|title=The Mille Miglia: Buckle up for an exhilarating grand tour|newspaper=The Independent |date=May 4, 2014 |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Benjamin|last=Preston|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/20/automobiles/mille-miglia-celebrates-cars-from-motorsports-history.html|title=Mille Miglia Celebrates Cars From Motorsports History|newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 19, 2014 |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Harvey|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/motoring/34166/mille-miglia-bruised-and-blistered.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521212624/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/motoring/34166/mille-miglia-bruised-and-blistered.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2014|title=Mille Miglia: bruised and blistered|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=May 21, 2014 |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>

Brescia is also the home of the [[Brescia Calcio]] football club and the [[Rugby Leonessa 1928]].

Since 1984, the Schermabrescia fencing club is active. Brescia born foil-fencer [[Andrea Cassarà]] won the gold medal at the [[2011 World Fencing Championships]].

Brescia is the home of the [[Basket Brescia Leonessa]] basketball club. Leonessa has its home arena in the new [[PalaLeonessa]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bresciaoggi.it/home/sport/basket/ecco-il-palaleonessa-nuova-casa-della-germani-1.6511330 |title=Ecco il PalaLeonessa, nuova casa della Germani |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=May 19, 2018 |website=bresciaoggi.it |access-date=June 5, 2018 |language=it |trans-title=New PalaLeonessa, new home for Germani |archive-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521233242/http://www.bresciaoggi.it/home/sport/basket/ecco-il-palaleonessa-nuova-casa-della-germani-1.6511330 |url-status=dead }}</ref> inaugurated in 2018, with a capacity of 5,200.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.giornaledibrescia.it/sport/il-palaleonessa-prende-forma-il-viaggio-nel-nuovo-palazzetto-1.3254884 |title=Il PalaLeonessa prende forma: il viaggio nel nuovo palazzetto |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=May 28, 2018 |website=giornaledibrescia.it |access-date=June 5, 2018 |language=it |trans-title=PalaLeonessa is growing: the trip inside the new arena}}</ref>

==People==
[[File:Monumento a garibaldi5 brescia by stefano Bolognini.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The monument representing a lion, the sign on the coat of arms of the city. The monument is also commonly considered a dedication to the "Lioness of Italy", nickname given to the city after the resistance the people of Brescia put in place during the [[Ten Days of Brescia]] in 1849 against the [[Austrian Empire|Austrians]].]]
[[File:Monumento alla Bella Italia torre bruciata Piazza Loggia a Brescia.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Monument to ''La Bella Italia'', realized in 1864 in the memory of the [[Ten Days of Brescia]].]]
[[File:Monumento Arnaldo da Brescia Piazzale Arnaldo Brescia.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Monument to [[Arnold of Brescia|Arnaldo]] in the homonymous square, realized in 1882.]]
[[File:Monumento a Garibaldi Giuseppe Maccagnani lato Nord Brescia.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Monument to [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]], realized in 1889.]]
* [[Marcus Nonius Macrinus]] (fl.152–71), Roman general and consul to Emperor [[Marcus Aurelius]]
* [[Rothari]] or Rotari ({{circa|602}}–652), King of the [[Lombards]]
* [[Rodoald]] or Rodoaldo ({{circa|637}}–653), King of the Lombards
* [[Desiderius]] (before 756–{{circa|786}}), King of the Lombards
* [[Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor]] (825–875), Frankish emperor and King of Italy
* [[Arnold of Brescia]] (1090–1155), dissident monk
* [[Albertanus of Brescia]] (1195–1251), Latin author
* [[Vincenzo Capirola]] (1474–after 1548), composer
* [[Vincenzo Foppa]] ({{circa|1427}}–{{circa|1515}}), painter
* [[Laura Cereta]] (1469–1499), humanist author
* [[Saint Angela Merici]] (1474–1540), founded the [[Order of Ursulines]] in Brescia in 1535
* [[Girolamo Savoldo]] ({{circa|1480/5}}–after 1548), painter
* [[Veronica Gambara]] (1485–1550), poet and stateswoman
* [[Girolamo Romani]], also known as "Romanino" ({{circa|1485}}–{{circa|1566}}), painter
* [[:it:Bartolomeo Beretta|Bartolomeo Beretta]] (1490–1565), gunsmith and founder of the [[Beretta]] firearm company
* [[Alessandro Bonvicino]]/Buonvicino, commonly known as "Moretto/Il Morretto da Brescia" ({{circa|1498}}–1554), painter
* [[Niccolò Fontana Tartaglia]] (1499–1557), mathematician
* [[Juan Pablos|Giovanni Paoli]] ({{circa|1500}}–1560/1), brought the printing press to the New World in [[Mexico City]]
* [[Gasparo da Salò]], (1540–1609), pioneer of violin making
* [[Giuliano Paratico]] ({{circa|1550}}–{{circa|1616}}), musician & composer
* [[Luca Marenzio]]/Marentio (1553/4–1599), composer
* [[Benedetto Castelli]] (1578–1643), mathematician and expert in [[hydraulics]]
* [[Giulio Alenio]] (1582–1649), Jesuit missionary called the "[[Confucius]] from the West"
* [[Giovanni Battista Fontana (composer)|Giovanni Battista Fontana]] (1589–1630), composer
* [[Biagio Marini]] (1594–1663), composer
* [[Dionisio Boldo]] (fl.1604), painter
* [[Francesco Lana de Terzi]] (1631–1687), aeronautics and braille pioneer
* [[Carlo Bacchiocco]], 17th-century painter with work in Brescia
* [[Paris Francesco Alghisi]] (1666–1733), composer
* [[Giovanni Bassignani]] (1669–1717), architect & engineer
* [[Pietro Gnocchi]] (1689–1775), eccentric polymath and composer
* [[Gaetano Crivelli]] (1768–1836), opera singer
* [[Giacomo Rossetti]] (1807–1882), painter and photographer<ref>Brescia dell'Ateneo Commentari 1882. His obituary is on page 210 as honorary member</ref>
* [[Saint]] [[Maria Crocifissa di Rosa]] (1813–1855), who founded the [[Handmaids of Charity]] order of nuns in Brescia in 1840
* [[Enrico Crivelli]] (1820–1870), opera singer and son of [[Gaetano Crivelli]]
* [[Giuseppe Zanardelli]] (1826–1903), jurist, politician, prime minister of the Kingdom of Italy (1901–1903)
* [[Saint]] [[Giovanni Battista Piamarta]] (1841–1913), priest and educator, founder of the [[Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth]]
* [[Camillo Golgi]], (1843–1926), experimental pathologist, received Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1906 for his studies of the structure of the nervous system
* [[Pope Paul VI]] (1897–1978), born nearby in [[Concesio]] as Giovanni Battista Montini
* [[Aymo Maggi]] (1903–1961), racing driver
* [[Franco Comotti]] (1906–1963), racing driver
* [[Guglielmo Achille Cavellini]] (1914–1990), art collector and artist
* [[Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli]] (1920–1995), pianist of the 20th century
* [[Remo Bertoni (footballer)|Remo Bertoni]] (1929–1993), football player
*[[Emanuele Severino]] (1929–2020), philosopher and composer
* [[Giacomo Agostini]] (born 1942), Grand Prix motorcycle racer and World Champion 1964–1977
* [[Carlo Giannini]] (1948–2004), econometrician and mathematical economist
* [[Maurizio Venturi]] (born 1957), football player and manager
* [[Giuseppe Baresi]] (born 1958), football player
* [[Franco Baresi]] (born 1960), football player
* [[Sergio Scariolo]] (born 1961), basketball coach
* [[Claudio Langes]] (born 1961), racing driver
* [[Vittorio Colao]] (born 1961), businessman
* [[Alessandro Zampedri]] (born 1969), racing driver
* [[Riccardo Frizza]] (born 1971), conductor
* [[Christian Pescatori]] (born 1971), racing driver
* [[Manuel Belleri]] (born 1977), football player
* [[Marco Cassetti]] (born 1977), football player
* [[Andrea Pirlo]] (born 1979), football player 
* [[Daniele Bonera]] (born 1981), football player
* [[L'Aura]] (born 1984), singer-songwriter
* [[Andrea Cassarà]] (born 1984), world champion fencer
* [[Nino Bertasio]] (born 1988), professional golfer
* [[Federico Colli]] (born 1988), classical pianist
* [[Vanessa Ferrari]] (born 1990), gymnast
* [[VINAI]] (born 1990/1994), DJs and EDM producers
* [[Alberto Cerqui]] (born 1992), racing driver
* [[Marcell Jacobs]] (born 1994), athlete 
* [[Davide Calabria]] (born 1996), football player
* [[Vittoria Ceretti]] (born 1998), model
* [[Blanco (singer)|Riccardo "Blanco" Fabbriconi]] (born 2003), singer and rapper, Italian representative at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2022]]

==International relations==
In Brazil there is a town called [[Nova Bréscia]]. This name was given by its first citizens, who were from Brescia.
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Brescia is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Gemellaggi|url=http://www.turismobrescia.it/it/content/gemellaggi|website=turismobrescia.it|publisher=Brescia|language=it|access-date=December 13, 2019|archive-date=December 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215092454/http://www.turismobrescia.it/it/content/gemellaggi|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Darmstadt]], Germany (1991)
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Logroño]], Spain (2006)
*{{flagicon|PSE}} [[Bethlehem]], Palestine (2007)
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Troyes]], France (2016)
*{{flagicon|LIT}} [[Kaunas]], Lithuania (2022)
{{div col end}}

===Consulates===
Brescia is home to the following [[Consul (representative)#Consulates and embassies|consulates]]:

* {{flag|Albania}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ambasciata.net/Consolato/16780/Albania-a-Brescia|title=Consolato Albanese a Brescia &#124; Italia|website=www.ambasciata.net}}</ref>
* {{flag|Ghana}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.consolatoghana.it/|title=Home &#124; Consolato Onorario della Repubblica del Ghana &#124; Consolato Onorario della Repubblica del Ghana|website=www.consolatoghana.it}}</ref>
* {{flag|Malta}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.easydiplomacy.com/consolato-onorario-di-malta-brescia/|title=Consolato Onorario di Malta, ''Easydiplomacy.com''}}{{Dead link|date=June 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* {{flag|Moldova}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aclibresciane.it/attivita/distaccamento-consolato-moldavo-presso-la-sede-delle-acli-bresciane|title=Distaccamento Consolato Moldavo presso la sede delle Acli bresciane|website=www.aclibresciane.it}}</ref>
* {{flag|Romania}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ambasciata.net/Consolato/24020/Romania-a-Brescia|title=Consolato Rumena a Brescia &#124; Italia|website=www.ambasciata.net}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
File:Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie interno Brescia.jpg|Interior view of the [[Santa Maria delle Grazie, Brescia|''Santa Maria delle Grazie'']] church
File:Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie interno Brescia.jpg|Internal view of the ''Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie'' church
File:Santo Corpo di Cristo church interior anteporta Brescia.jpg|Internal view of the ''Santissimo Corpo di Cristo'' church
File:San Barnaba facciata Brescia.jpg|Former ''San Barnaba'' church
File:Chiesa di San Faustino in Riposo esterno est Brescia.jpg|''San Faustino in Riposo'' church
File:Chiesa di San Marco Evangelista facciata Brescia.jpg|''San Marco Evangelista'' church 
File:Tomba del cane lato Nord Brescia.jpg|Bonomini Tomb also known as the Dog's Tomb
File:Palazzo Maggi-Gambara al Fontanone Brescia.jpg|Maggi-Gambara Palace
File:Palazzo Bertolotti Brescia.jpg|Bertolotti Palace
File:Palazzo Beretta in Piazza del Mercato Brescia.jpg|Beretta Palace
File:Palazzo Martinengo Palatini in Piazza Mercato Brescia 2020.jpg|Martinengo Palace
File:Duomo vecchio e duomo nuovo notturna Brescia.jpg|''Piazza Duomo'' by night
File:Brescia Castello fortificazioni ingresso 500esco.jpg|The Castle's main entrance
File:Brescia, Province of Brescia, Italy - panoramio (8).jpg|Street in the old city center
File:Brescia, Province of Brescia, Italy - panoramio (62).jpg|Roman ruins
File:Teatro Romano da est Brescia.jpg|Roman Theatre section
File:Corso Zanardelli e Teatro Grande Brescia.jpg|''Corso Zanardelli'' and ''Teatro Grande'' main entrance
File:Palazzo Bruni Conter monumento Tartaglia in Brescia.jpg|Bruni Conter Palace and [[Niccolò Tartaglia]] statue
File:Torre d'Ercole facciata sud Brescia.jpg|''Torre d'Ercole''
File:Brescia Via Barricate & Duomo nuovo.jpg|Steps in the old town
File:Brescia Via X Giornate Arkaden 7.jpg|Arcades
</gallery>

===Fountains===
For many years Brescia has been considered a "city of water" due to the presence of many canals and natural waterways, as the French author [[Paul de Musset]] (1804–1880) once wrote: "The wide streets and numerous fountains give it an air of a big city. Water gushes in the squares and circulates in private homes almost as abundantly as in Rome".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oltreiltondino.it/event/brescia-citta-dacqua-primo-itinerario-dalleta-romana-al-medioevo/|title=Brescia città d'acqua|website=oltreiltondino.it|language=it|trans-title=Brescia city of water.|url-status=dead|access-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226105852/https://www.oltreiltondino.it/event/brescia-citta-dacqua-primo-itinerario-dalleta-romana-al-medioevo/|archive-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
File:Brescia, Province of Brescia, Italy - panoramio (91).jpg|Medieval fountain
File:Brescia, Province of Brescia, Italy - panoramio (60).jpg|Tagliaferri fountain 
File:Neptune fountain Palazzo Bruni Conter Brescia.jpg|Neptune fountain
File:Brescia statua di Minerva del Cignaroli in piazza Duomo.jpg|Minerva fountain
File:Fontana della Pallata Brescia.jpg|Pallata fountain
File:Fontana in piazza Paolo VI Brescia armata Callegari.jpg|Armed Brescia fountain
File:2017-03 Brescia Mattes Pana (52).JPG|Private fountain
File:Brescia via Musei fontana.jpg|Private fountain
File:Brescia fontana del Vescovado.jpg|Vescovado fountain
</gallery>

== Cultural references ==

=== Astronomy ===
The [[521 Brixia]] planetoid is named after the city.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schmadel |first1=Lutz D. |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryminorp00schm |title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names |date=2003 |publisher=[[Springer-Verlag]] |isbn=3-540-00238-3 |edition=5th |location=Berlin, Heidelberg, New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryminorp00schm/page/n69 56] |url-access=limited}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Italy|European Union|Cities}}
* [[Bishopric of Brescia]]
* [[University of Brescia]]

==References and sources==
; References
{{Reflist}}

; Sources
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Brescia}}
* {{CE1913|wstitle=Brescia}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Brescia#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Brescia}}
Brescia 1849 la Compagnia della Stampa Gianluigi Valotti Anno edizione: 2018

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{EB1911 poster|Brescia}}
{{Wikivoyage|Brescia}}
* [http://www.bresciatourism.it/en/ Brescia Tourism official site: useful information, guide destination and hotel, airport]
* [http://www.turismobrescia.it/en Tourist Office of the City of Brescia]
* [http://www.bresciamusei.com/ Brescia Museums official site] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150319061947/http://www.unibs.it/english-version University of Brescia official site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090614002916/http://www.bs.unicatt.it/ Catholic University of Brescia] {{in lang|it}}

{{Province of Brescia}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Italy}}
{{Cities in Italy}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Brescia| ]]
[[Category:Castles in Italy]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Lombardy]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Italy]]
[[Category:Domini di Terraferma]]
[[Category:Territories of the Republic of Venice]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 2nd millennium BC]]
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