Italy is one of the destinations most beloved by British tourists. In 2022 alone, more than 3.6 million people travelled from the UK to the Mediterranean country to experience a slice of the “dolce vita”.
Rome, Venice and Florence are the art cities that first come to mind when thinking about Italy, while Capri, Portofino and Positano are the destinations on the bucket lists of many people who want to experience the very best a seaside holiday can offer.
However, the well-earned popularity of these destinations can make them overcrowded during peak season, and at least partially spoil tourists’ experience.
Luckily, the boot-shaped peninsula has many more lesser-known but equally enticing locations with plenty of culture, landmarks and delicious traditional food to offer. One of them happens to be my home city.
Brescia is an ancient city located in the northern region of Lombardy and is home to more than 196,000 people.
While it is known for its industries – from metallurgy to firearms and automotive engineering, the city has a lot to offer to visitors, whether they are history buffs, looking for a relaxing stay or adore nature.
I like to liken a walk through the city centre to time travelling, with the journey starting at the time of ancient Romans, who gave Brescia its name – Brixia, in Latin. In Brescia you can find some of the best-preserved Roman sites within the Archaeologic Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, including the Capitolium and the statue of the Winged Victory.
Continuing through old Brescia, tourists can see glimpses of the life of the city during the Middle Ages, when it was conquered by the Longobards, at the Santa Giulia museum, home to some of this Germanic tribe’s most precious artefacts.
Then, the narrow streets open up to big squares – including Piazza Duomo, which counts two cathedrals – and majestic palaces, some of which were built during the period of Austro-Hungarian domination.
During the mid-19th century, just as groups through the peninsula were fighting to unite Italy, Brescia earned its nickname “Lioness of Italy” after it resisted, alone, for 10 days the Austrian forces trying to reconquer the city. To say that, to this day, Bresciani (as people from Brescia are called) are proud of this moniker is an understatement.
Brescia’s history and heritage – which were celebrated in 2023 as the city was one of the two chosen as Italy’s capitals of culture – isn’t the only attraction. Tourists more interested in landmarks and nature have plenty of parks to enjoy in the city or can walk up the steep path to Brescia’s stunning medieval castle to take in the stunning view.
The city also sits between two major Italian lakes – Iseo and Garda – both of which can be reached with relatively short trips either by train or car.
In the summer, the outskirts of Brescia’s province allow nature-loving tourists and locals to explore the wilderness and walk through paths such as the one within the “Wood of the Gnomes”, while in the winter skiers can hit the slopes on Mount Guglielmo.
Those using Brescia as a starting point for a wider trip through Italy will also find that Milan is only some 60 minutes away by train, while Venice can be reached in less than two hours via rail transport.
Staying in Brescia is also a particular treat for car lovers, as every summer the city is the point of departure and arrival of the Mille Miglia, an open-road race for vintage and classic cars travelling through Italy.
Another reason to explore Brescia is its traditional hearty food, which includes filled pasta known as Casoncelli, a wide range of risotti and slow-cooked beef.
Most notably, though, Brescia claims to be the city where the world-renowned Spritz cocktail, which Bresciani have dubbed Pirlo, was invented. However, as it often happens in Italy when it comes to food and drinks, this claim has been contested by Venice, which says instead its version of the Spritz came first.
