The City Museum, unique in its design and location - a monastic complex of Lombard foundation - and with display areas covering 14,000 m², offers a journey through Brescia’s history, art and spirituality from prehistoric times to the present day.
The Benedictine convent of San Salvatore - Santa Giulia was founded in 753 by the last Lombard king, Desiderius, and his wife Ansa and occupied a role of great religious, political and economic importance, which continued after the Lombards’ defeat by Charlemagne. According to tradition, the dramatic story of Ermengarda, daughter of Desiderius and rejected bride of the Frankish emperor, was played out here; it was recounted by Manzoni in Adelchi.
The site is composed of parts from many different epochs: a stratification of memories and a continual source of unexpected discoveries. The complex was built on the ruins of impressive Roman town houses and includes the Lombard church of San Salvatore and its crypt, the Romanesque Santa Maria in Solario, the Nuns’ Choir, the sixteenth-century church of Santa Giulia and the monastery cloisters. It is the perfect location for the City Museum and the natural focal point for a visit to Brescia.
The Museum’s special distinguishing feature is the close relationship between the historic buildings and the objects on display, which number about 11,000 and include Celtic helmets and horse harness ornaments, Roman portraits and bronze sculptures, Lombard items, grave goods, frescos, an applied art collection and artefacts dating from the medieval period to the 18th century AD.
The Winged Victory, the city’s symbol, is a large bronze statue from the Capitolium. Recent studies have shed new light on the sculpture’s history and the life of ancient Brixia. This is but one of the surprises Santa Giulia has to offer!
Santa Giulia Museum of city
Via Musei, 81
25121 Brescia
tel. 030 29 77 833 - 030 29 77 834
fax 030 297 8222
www.bresciamusei.com
Opening hours:
October 1 to May 31
Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 to 17.30
From 1 June to 30 September
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 18
Closed on Mondays Holidays
Full price € 8.00
Reduced ticket € 6.00 (for groups of 10 to 25 people and offer)
Visitors from 14 to 18 years and over 65 years € 4.00
Schools € 3.00 (2 free teachers are granted and / or guides for each school group with the addition of any special education teacher or assistant for the disabled student. If carers of the pupils are more than two, will apply to these input reduced to € 6.00)
Admission € 4.50 + Teaching
On the occasion of exhibitions and events may vary timetables, fares and phone numbers for information and reservations
