HISTORY OF BRESCIA
Inhabited since the Age of the Bronze, from the
Liguri, then from the
Etruschi and towards the end of the VII century a.C. from the
Celti, in the 27 a.C. Brixia conquered the title of roman colony. It was a sacred headquarter from the IV century, in 452 d.c. was sacked by the
Attila’s
Unni. At the decline of the empire it became the capital of a longobardian duchy (VII century d.c.) with king Desire that founded the Monastry of
San Salvatore (of Saint Julia today). In its cloisters
Alessandro Manzoni acclimatized the
Adelchi tragedy, narrating of
Ermengarda, the ill-fated daughter of the king, gone bride to
Carlo Magno king of the
Franchi that then will conquer the city. Around to the 1000 d.c.,
Brescia became free common and participated to the battle of
Legnano against
Federico Barbarossa. In that period a citizen of it, the
Arnaldo friar was burned on the bonfire like heretical as for being oppositor to the corruption of the clergy. After ' the 200 the city was contended between
Milano and
Venezia. In 1438 the citizens of
Milano besieged the city and, as tells the tradition, the apparition of the Saints patrons
Faustino and
Giovita put in escape the enemy soldiers. In 1512 also the French troops of
Gastone di Foix besieged
Brescia. In this century painters
Foppa, Romanino, Moretto and
Savoldo created the most famous works of the brescian Reinaissance, kept in the Civic
Pinacoteca and the city churches. A long period of peace followed during which the venetian domination favored the development of
Brescia in agricultural and handicraft activities, as the production of the crews that rendered it famous in all Europe. At the end of the XVIII century the French troops guided by
Napoleone placed an end to the domination of the
Serenissima: Brescia was made part of the
Cisalpina Republic and the Reign of Italy. At the fall of
Napoleone the city entered in the Hasburg dominions of the Lombardic
Veneto and, in the risorgimental period during the Ten Days of 1849, it rebelled against the Austrians conquering itself the name of Lioness of Italy. After the unification of the Italian Reign, the brescian
Giuseppe Zanardelli became more times minister and head of government (1901/1903). In years ' 30 with an exemplary participation of modernization of the city center the public Square of the Victoria was inaugurated, meaningful testimony of the urban planning tendencies of the fascist regimen. After the Second World War, a great industrial development had beginning that placed it between the more important Italian cities for the economic activities. On 28th may of 1974 took place the so called Slaughter of the Square of the
Loggia: a bomb hidden into a basket was made explode during a demonstration of the trade unions and the antifascism commitee. The explosion caused the death of eigth persons and the wounding of other ninety. Between its more illustrious citizens must be remembered remembering
Giovanni Battista Montini, become Pope
Paolo VI (1897-1978) to who it has been dedicated the public square of the Dome. In the contemporary age the south part of city,called "
Brescia two",represents a most modern overhong towards the future. As for the economy,
Brescia,with its urban area, is the third industrial zone in Italy. The main manifacturer activities are the metalmechanical, texile and food ones. The brescian companies are tipically of quite-small dimensions. In the lastest fourty years, workstations are improved in the tertiary sector. One of the most modern
termovalorizzatori of Europe is in operation at
Brescia. An underground station is on costruction.
