Brescia Castle, Brescia, Lombardy: the Falcon of Italy
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Perched on top of Mount Cidneo, Brescia Castle dominates the Italian city’s skyline. Its views across to the city below, the Alps and the Po Valley in the distance mean it has been dubbed ‘Il Falco d’Italia’ (The Falcon of Italy), and on a clear day it’s even possible to see as far west as Milan.
Originally the site of a Roman temple, it was later home to a Christian church, although all that remains of the latter is the Romanesque Mirabella Tower. A fort first appeared there during the Middle Ages. The powerful Visconti family began its expansion in the fourteenth century by creating a circular fortress, known as the Mastio Visconteo. At the end of the sixteenth century, when the city was part of the Venetian Republic, a drawbridge and moat were added, and the Venetian symbol of a lion is carved in stone above the main gate.
Given the great strategic position of the castle, it’s unsurprising that it has witnessed sieges between rival Italian noble families and invading French troops. The last battle took place there during the Risorgimento and saw Brescia’s brave citizens earn their place in history, when they fought against Austrian forces, who escaped to the castle. The locals lost, but the battle of the Ten Days of Brescia saw the city immortalised as the ‘Leonessa d’Italia’ (Italian Lioness) first by the poet Aleardo Aleardi and later by Noble Prize winning writer Giosuè Carducci. In a nod to its bloody history, the castle is now home to the Luigi Marzoli Arms Museum, and the collection contains more than 6,000 pieces, including armour, guns, swords and pikes.
But the castle isn’t just of cultural interest, situated north east of the city; its slopes are home to the largest urban vineyard in the world, which produces Pusterla Bianco wine. The castle’s impressive façade with its glistening white stone keep, fairytale tower, massive ramparts and drawbridge all make it a pleasant place to take a stroll or have a picnic, finishing off by admiring the spectacular view from the shady garden at the summit.
Entrance to the castle grounds is free; a visit to the Arms Museum costs €5.
Opening Times:
1st October – 31st May
Tuesday – Sunday 9.30 – 17.00
1st June – 30th September
Tuesday – Sunday 10.30 – 18.00
Closed on non-holiday Mondays
Contact tel: +39 030 29 32 92
Cost adult ticket: £1 - £5 pp
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Brescia Castle, Brescia, Lombardy
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