he present look of the square is dated at the XVIIIth century and is the result of a long historical stratification, started in Romanesque period.
On the west side there was the Baptistery of St. Giovanni (615), demolished in 1625, of which remains a round coffer with the Saint’s head, walled up in the house opposite the New Cathedral. In the middle of the same building, stand out a stone arcade, surmounted with a Gothic three-mullioned window, of the old Camerlenghi’s building residence of the viscount fortification superintendent. In the middle of the square there are two fontains of the XVIIIth century: on the north side the one with Minerva statue by Cignaroli and on the south side the copy of the one by Calegari with Brescia’s Army statue.
On the east side three of the most important building in the city: the New Cathedral, the Old Cathedral or Rounded and the Broletto Palace.
(see itinerary nr. 1 of the guide))
nr. 3 reserved places in the middle of the square, in front of the New Cathedral
Flat paving and pavements close to the ground or with flight on the east side of the square
PIAZZA DELLA LOGGIA
This square represents the Renaissance architectonic whole of Venetian style more hamornic and homogeneous of the city, for podestà Foscari wishing in the 1433 to create a new civic centre, symbol of the Venetian dominion just began.
On the west side there is the principal building of the square, Palazzo Loggia (1492 – 1573), today Town Hall; On the south side there are the Monte Vecchio (1483 – 89) and the Monte Nuovo di Pietà (1596 – 1600); The east side is closed by the Arcades Palace (1595) in which rises the Torre dell’Orologio (1540 – 50) said “I macc de le ure” (The crazy of the hours) because of the two bronze statues that struck any hour. On the vault below the tower there is the Vittime della strage of 28th may 1974 monument.
(see itinerary nr. 3 of the guide)
nr. 1 reserved place in piazza Rovetta
nr. 1 reserved place in via XXIVth Maggio
Flat paving – pavements with flight on the north and west sides of the square – flights to reach the middle of the square on the north and south sides.
PIAZZA DELLA VITTORIA
Inaugurated in 1932 projected by the architect Piacentini, the square is surrounded by monumental buildings as required in the Fascist Ages style. In the last years it represents the ideal stage designing for the Mille Miglia historical, evocation of the cars race started in 1927 where take part the same carriage that racing in the first edition.
nr. 2 reserved places in via X Giornate (20 mt)
nr. 1 reserved place in via XXIV Maggio (10 mt)
Flat paving in the pavements and very cobbled on the crossing, pavements close to the ground or with flight reaching the square on the east, south and west corners. Steps on the north side.
PIAZZA DEL MERCATO
Once denominated of the Lino, later of the Erbe and, at last, of the Mercato, the square represents an interesting Renaissance example of a craftsmen quarter above all for the arcades on the south side (1481 and 1532) and for the opposite Arcades House (1558); in both there were shops on the ground floor and dwellings on the upper floors.
The western side is towered over by the solemn and imposing Martinengo Palatini Palace (1675), while in the middle there is the fountain rebuil on Donegani drawing (1825)
Flat entrance or with flight on the north and east sides
nr. 2 reserved places in via X Giornate (50 mt)
Flat paving
PIAZZA ARNALDO
This square is towered over by the severe white stone building of the Mercato dei grani (1820 – 1823) built by architect Vita as seat of local cereals trade; in the middle of the square there is the Arnaldo monument (1882), work by the sculptor Tabacchi, dedicated to the reformist friar from Brescia, burned alive in 1155 by Adriano IVth.
(see itinerary nr. 2 of the guide)
The square isn’t pedestrian area and the paving haven’t flight, we suggest to remain on the west side pavement to enjoy on the whole the square
