Piazza del Mercato in Brescia is one of the city’s most historically significant and architecturally charming public squares, reflecting centuries of civic life, trade, and urban development. Situated in the heart of the historic centre, just a short walk from Brescia’s Roman ruins and Renaissance-era piazzas, Piazza del Mercato has long been a hub of commerce and social exchange. Its name, meaning “Market Square,” speaks to its original purpose: a bustling marketplace where merchants, artisans, and townspeople gathered to buy, sell, and connect. The origins of the square date back to the Middle Ages, when it emerged as a key site for economic activity within the expanding city.

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Piazza del Mercato, click the image.

Piazza della Vittoria is one of the most distinctive and historically significant squares in Brescia, representing a bold statement of 20th-century architecture and urban planning in a city known for its Roman, medieval, and Renaissance heritage. Located in the heart of the city, just steps away from the historic Piazza della Loggia and the Duomo, this striking piazza offers a powerful contrast to its older surroundings and stands as a testament to the Fascist-era transformations that reshaped many Italian cities in the 1930s. Inaugurated in 1932 during the Fascist regime, Piazza della Vittoria was designed by architect Marcello Piacentini, a key figure in rationalist architecture and Mussolini’s urban renewal programs.

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Piazza della Vittoria, click the image.

Piazza della Loggia is one of Brescia’s most elegant and historically rich squares, a masterpiece of Renaissance urban design and the cultural heart of the city. Located in the historic centre, just a short walk from the Duomo and the Roman ruins of ancient Brixia, this piazza is not only a place of civic pride but also a powerful symbol of Brescia’s artistic, political, and social identity through the centuries. With its harmonious proportions, refined architecture, and layered history, Piazza della Loggia offers a captivating blend of beauty, memory, and meaning. The square takes its name from the magnificent Loggia, the white marble Renaissance building that dominates the western side of the piazza. Construction began in the late 15th century under Venetian rule, when Brescia was part of the Republic of Venice, and it served as the seat of the city government.

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Piazza della Loggia, click the image.

Located in the heart of the historic centre of Brescia, Piazza Paolo VI is a captivating square that serves as a vibrant crossroads between the city’s rich past and its dynamic present. Formerly known as Piazza del Duomo, this iconic piazza offers a remarkable glimpse into the layers of architectural, religious, and civic life that have shaped Brescia over the centuries. It stands as a symbol of the city’s enduring cultural and spiritual identity, named after Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini), who was born in the province of Brescia and led the Catholic Church from 1963 to 1978. The square is dominated by two magnificent cathedrals that sit side by side in striking contrast, il Duomo Vecchio (the Old Cathedral) and il Duomo Nuovo (the New Cathedral).

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Piazza Paolo VI, click the image.

The Cattedrale di Brescia, officially known as the Duomo Nuovo (New Cathedral), is one of the most prominent and architecturally striking landmarks in the city of Brescia. Located in the heart of the historic centre, on Piazza Paolo VI, the cathedral stands side by side with the Duomo Vecchio (Old Cathedral), creating a unique and visually compelling dialogue between two distinct eras of ecclesiastical architecture. This juxtaposition is rare in Italy and symbolizes the continuity and evolution of religious life in Brescia from the early Middle Ages to the Baroque period. Construction of the Duomo Nuovo began in 1604, following the decision to replace the previous Romanesque church with a more modern and grandiose structure that reflected the spiritual and artistic ambitions of the Counter, Reformation.

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Cattedrale di Brescia, click the image.

The Capitolium of Brixia, located in the modern-day city of Brescia in northern Italy, stands as one of the most significant and well-preserved Roman archaeological sites in the country. Constructed in 73 AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, the Capitolium, also known as the Capitoline Temple, served as the religious and civic heart of ancient Brixia, the Roman name for Brescia. Dedicated to the Capitoline Triad of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, the temple symbolized Rome’s imperial power and cultural influence in the region, blending architectural grandeur with religious authority. Positioned at the foot of Cidneo Hill and forming part of a larger Roman forum complex, the Capitolium originally stood alongside other important structures such as the basilica, the curia, and a series of public buildings

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The Chiesa di Santa Croce in Avigliana is a small but historically significant oratory located on the western side of Piazza Conte Rosso, a space that has been the civic and spiritual heart of the medieval town for centuries. Dating back to at least the 17th century, the church appears in the famous Theatrum Sabaudiae, a printed representation of Savoy territory. It served for centuries as the headquarters of the Compagnia di Santa Croce, a brotherhood especially comprised of merchants, artisans, and civic leaders from Avigliana’s Borgo Nuovo. This confraternity, rooted in local traditions dating to the mid-15th century, held devotional gatherings parallel to those of other associations, such as the Compagnia del Gesù in the Santa Maria district.

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Castello di Brescia, click the image.