A few words about Brescia

The name of Brescia comes from an ancient Indo-European root meaning an elevated place - possibly a fortress. This city of 200,000 people boasts more than 2,000 years of history. It began under Caesar in 49 BC. As early as in the 2nd century AD Brescia became a port, some archaelogical proofs for that can be seen today in Via Mantova. Brescia had its unfair share in the Huns' raids into the dying Roman Empire in the 6th century. After that, the city would most often be subject to power games between bigger local city-states, though there were time when it found itself able to cooperate with some powers against, for example, Venice.

Ironically, Brescians themselves would once asked Venice to protect them against the power-hungry Viscontis from Milan.

After the city became the part of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy, it entered the phase of quick industrial growth that, however, became halted during both world wars. After the war, however, Brescia, as virtually the whole of Italian north, had enjoyed the miracles of Italian economic boom. Brescia lies in the center of Italy's third largest industrial region, with mechanical, automotive engineering, and machine tools industry providing jobs. On the other hand, even if tourism does not have such importance in Brescia as it does in several other northern cities, the city is still a treat to visitors.

The influence of Venice can be easily seen in the buildings of Loggia and Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower) that is similar to the Venice tower from St. Mark's Square. From two cathedrals on Piazza Paolo VI, the 12th century Rotonda is more interesting. The Roman past of the city is now recalled in the Capitolina, a Roman shrine dating back to the 1st century AD.

An interesting feature of Brescia is the Palazzo Arzaga hotel - a meticulously restored 15th century building overlooking an excellent golf course. There are many more possibilities for sports lovers in the Brescia area, given its proximity to the Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, and the Alps.