Brescia. Something else.

Piazza della Loggia takes its name from one of the palaces that border it; the Palazzo della Loggia. It was built between 1492 and 1570. Today it houses the town hall. Opposite this palace you can see a long building with arcades and a clock tower. It was built in 1595.

There are some other buildings at piazza della Loggia, as the Monte di Pietà; the old and the new one.

Piazza della Loggia was the site of a terrorist attack in 1974. It was a bombing. This happened during an anti fascist protest.
Eight people died and 102 were injured.

Here you see the astronomical clock. One of the nicest things on the square; in my opinion.

I visited some churches during my stay in Brescia. This town has lots of these.

I was particularly attracted by the shrine of saint Mary of the Graces. This shrine was built between 1875 and 1907 on the area of a previous church dated to the XIII century.

Inside this church you can see several beautiful paintings as this annunciation to the Virgin.

Just outside the shrine there is a small cloister with a plethora of ex votos on its walls.

I visited the proper church of Saint Mary of the Graces as well. I didn' t take any pics inside because the church was not lit enough. I remember it is extremely decorated.

The church of Santa Maria della Carità is one of the few churches that are opened at lunchtime. Most of these are closed between 12 and 3 p. m. circa. I think this church was opened due to the help of some volunteers.

This church was built in the XVI century. It was reconstructed in 1640 and modified at the beginning of the ' 700. It is richly decorated inside. Some walls or part of these are made of wood resembling decorated marble.

Santa Maria church houses a room where a Madonna' s house (a room) was replicated like the house you can see in Loreto (IT). A similar house was built here because not everyone could visit Loreto and the Madonna' s house.

Another church I visited was Saint Francis' one. It dates to the XII century. It was enlarged between 1300 and 1400.

I like very much this fresco with several friars. Unfortunately the church was poorly lit when I visit it, so this picture turned out quite dark.

This is the Mostassù delle Cossere. A face without a nose.

Here is a legend about it. The emperor Arrigo VII in 1311 chase the Ghibellini (a political faction). Then he lay siege the town and swore to destroy its walls and cut off the noses to the citizens. A priest convinced him to avoid these bad things. So the emperor settled for cutting the noses of the stautes in Brescia.

There are various picturesque narrow streets in Brescia...

Brescia was a very important Roman town. Its name then was Brixia.

Besides the Romans founds we see on display in the Saint Giulia museum there are several Romans ruins in this town.

Piazza del Foro was where the Roman forum was situated. Here you can see the Capitolium. It was built by the emperor Vespasian in 74 a. D. It is partly restored. There is also what remains of the basilica (law court) nearby.

The forum; in Roman times was the center of the religious and political life.

In this picture you see the Capitolium. I didn' t go inside, but I will probably do next time I visit Brescia. I have read there are some areas decorated and well preserved into this temple.

Near piazza del Foro and on the same side of the Capltolium there is a quite large Roman theater. Its was constructed from the I to the III centuries a. D.

Well, I think Brescia has more to offer than the attractions I showed you. This town deserves more than a day trip or a two days stay.

I like Brescia!